THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 


THE     SEMINOLES 

OF 

FLORIDA 


MINNIE  MOORE-WILLSON 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 

MOFFAT,  YARD  AND  COMPANY 
1920 


' 


Copyright  1896,  1910  and  1920 

by 
MINNIE  MOORE-WILLSON 

First    Edition,  Jan.,  1896 

Second  "  Jan.,  1910 

Third  "  Dec.,  1911 

Fourth  "  5e^.,1912 

/?»ftA  "  Aug.,  1914 

£»•*<&  "  Orf.,  1916 

Seventh  !'  Fe&.,  1920 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


MEMORIAL  TRIBUTE 
MRS.  ELIZABETH  STAUFFER-MOORE 

IN  GRATEFUL  RECOGNITION  OF  HER  PHILANTHROPIC 
INTEREST  IN  A  BRAVE  AND  HEROIC  REMNANT  OF  THE 
ABORIGINAL  AMERICANS,  THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA, 
THIS  BOOK  IS  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 

HER  TIMELY  AID  IN  THE  CRISIS  OF  THEIR  EXISTENCE 
HELPED  TO  RESCUE  THEM  FROM  OBLIVION  AND  TO 
PROVIDE  FOR  THEM  THE  RIGHTS  OF  A  FREE  PEOPLE. 

MINNIE  MOORE-WILLSON. 


4 3 571 3 


FOREWORD 

When  most  of  the  Seminoles  were  moved  from 
Florida  to  Indian  Territory,  a  few  score  of  them 
were  unwilling  to  go.  Of  these  who  remained,  the 
decendants,  ten  years  ago,  numbered  about  six  hun 
dred.  An  effort  was  made  at  that  time  to  buy  for 
this  band  the  land  on  which  they  lived  and  a  few 
hundred  dollars  was  given  for  that  purpose. 

In  the  study  of  this  fragment  in  their  singular  sur 
roundings  as  portrayed  in  the  pages  of  this  book,  one 
gets,  as  it  were,  a  glimpse  of  their  camp-fire  life,  a 
view  of  their  sun-bleached  wigwams  and  an  insight 
into  the  character  of  these  proud  but  homeless  people. 

Not  much  apparently  can  be  done  for  this  home- 
keeping  remnant  of  the  Florida  aborigines,  but  it  is 
help  and  a  protection  to  them  that  their  continuing 
presence  in  Florida  and  the  conditions  of  their  life 
there  should  be  known  to  the  rest  of  the  Americans 
and  especially  to  those  who  go  to  Florida  or  are 
concerned  with  the  development  of  that  State. 

To  diffuse  this  helpful  knowledge  and  give  these 
Indians  such  protection  as  may  come  from  it,  is  the 
aim  of  the  present  book. 

EDWARD  S.  MARTIN. 

New,  York,  Nov.  9,  1909. 


PREFACE 

THAT  there  is  yet  a  tribe,  or  tribes  of  Indians  in 
Florida  is  a  fact  unknown  to  a  large  part  of  the 
people  of  this  country;  there  are  even  students  of 
history  who  have  scarcely  known  it.  These  people, 
driven,  about  seventy  or  more  years  ago,  into  the 
dreary  Everglades  of  that  Southern  Peninsular,  have 
kept  themselves  secluded  from  the  ever  encroaching 
white  population  of  the  State.  Only  occasionally 
would  a  very  small  number  visit  a  town  or  a  city  to 
engage  in  traffic.  They  have  had  no  faith  in  the  white 
man,  or  the  white  man's  government.  They  have 
aimed  to  be  peaceful,  but  have,  with  inveterate  pur 
pose,  abstained  from  intercourse  with  any  of  the 
agencies  of  our  government.  My  friends,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  M.  Willson,  Jr.,  of  Kissimmee,  Florida, 
have  found  their  way  to  a  large  degree  of  confidence 
in  the  hearts  of  this  people.  They  have  learned 
something  of  their  history,  and  have  studied  their 
manner  of  life,  their  character  and  habits. 

Mr.  Willson  has  been  allowed,  and  invited  to  go 
with  some  of  their  men  on  familiar  hunting  expedi 
tions.  He  has  seen  them  in  the  swamps,  in  their 
homes,  and  in  their  general  life  environments.  He 
has  been  admitted  to  their  confidence  and  friendship. 
He  has  consequently  become  deeply  interested  in 


PREFACE 

them.  Mrs.  Willson  also  has  become  acquainted 
with  some  of  their  chief  personages.  Both  have 
learned  to  sympathize  with  these  Indians  in  their 
hardships  and  in  their  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the 
white  race. 

Mrs.  Willson  began  to  write  about  them  and  her 
writing  has  grown  into  a  book;  and  she  has  been  en 
couraged  to  give  this  book  to  the  world,  in  the  hope 
that  the  attention  of  good  people  may  be  drawn  to 
ward  them,  and  that  at  least  a  true  interest  may  be 
awakened  in  their  moral  and  material  well-being. 
They  are  truly  an  interesting  people,  living,  although 
secluded,  almost  at  our  doors. 

Mrs.  Willson  has  written  earnestly,  enthusiastic 
ally,  and  lovingly  regarding  them,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  a  new  interest  may  soon  be  taken  in  them 
both  by  the  churches  and  the  government,  and  that 
they  may  soon  enter  upon  new  realizations,  and  be 
encouraged  to  place  a  confidence  in  the  white  race  to 
which,  until  quite  recently,  they  have  been  utter 
strangers. 

Mr.  Willson  has  prepared  the  vocabulary.  The 
words  and  phrases  here  given  have  been  gathered  by 
him  in  the  course  of  ten  or  fifteen  years  of  friendly 
intercourse  with  members  of  the  tribe.  They  have 
assisted  him  in  getting  the  true  Indian  or  Seminole 
word  and  in  finding  its  signification.  Old  Chief  Talla 
hassee  has  been  especially  and  kindly  helpful;  so  has 
Chief  Tom  Tiger.  This  vocabulary  of  this  peculiar 
Indian  tribe,  though  not  complete,  ought  to  prove 
helpful  to  those  who  are  interested  in  the  languages 


PREFACE 

of  the  people  who  roamed  the  forests  of  this  great 
land  before  it  became  the  home  and  the  domain  of 
those  who  now  live  and  rule  in  it. 

This  book,  in  its  first  part,  gives  some  account  of 
the  earlier  years  of  the  Seminole  history.  In  the 
second  part  the  reader  is  introduced  to  the  later  and 
present  state  of  things  and  facts  regarding  them. 

In  the  third  part  is  found  the  vocabulary  — a  num 
ber  of  Seminole  words,  phrases  and  names,  with  their 
interpretation  into  our  own  tongue. 

This  little  book  is  given  to  the  world  in  the  hope 
that  it  will  be  found  both  interesting  and  valuable  to 
many  readers. 

R.  BRADEN  MOORE. 


CONTENTS 

PART  FIRST 


FACTS  OF  THE  EARLIER  DAYS     .....       ...  i 

ORIGIN  OF  TROUBLES     .  ........  6 

-.EFFORTS  AT  INDIAN  REMOVAL     .       .       .       .       .       .       .       .  u 

THE  MASSACRE  OF  GENERAL  THOMPSON  AND  OF  DADE'S  FORCES     .  15 

A  DISHONORED  TREATY        ......       .       .       .  19 

AS-SE-HO-LAR,  THE  RISING  SUN,  OR  OSCEOLA    .....  21 

OSCEOLA'S  CAPTURE       ..........  26 

THE  HIDDEN  WAR  CAMP      .........  30 

WILD  CAT  AND  GENERAL  WORTH      .......  33 

INDIAN  WARFARE    ...........  38 

"DAT  SEMINOLE  TREATY  DINNER"    .......  41 

PART  SECOND 

THE  PRESENT  CONDITION  AND  ATTITUDE  OF  THE  SEMINOLES  .       .  53 
NATIONAL  INDIAN  ASSOCIATION,  ITS  WORK,  AND  ITS  RESULTS, 

EPISCOPAL  MISSION        .......       '.       .  65 

THE  FRIENDS  OF  THE  FLORIDA  SEMINOLES         .       .  '     .       .       .  68 

OUR  DUTY  TO  THESE  WARDS  OF  THE  NATION    .....  76  — 

CHIEFTAIN  TALLAHASSEE       .........  79 

INCREASING      .......       .....  84 

APPEARANCE  AND  DRESS      .........  87 

INDEPENDENCE  AND  HONOR  ....       .....  90 

THE  SEMINOLE'S  UNWRITTEN  VERDICT  OF  THE  WHITE  RACE  .       .  93 

'•ENDURANCE  AND  FEASTS       .....  -~    .       .       .       .  95 

*  THE  HUNTING  DANCE    ..........  100 

SLAVERY    ........       .....  106 

HANNAH    .............  107 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

UNWRITTEN  LAWS 108 

GENS  AND  MARRIAGE 114 

BEAUTY  AND  Music .  .  116 

RELATIONSHIP  TO  THE  AZTECS  AND  EASTERN  TRIBES  .  .  .118 

SEMINOLES  AT  HOME— THE  EVERGLADES 126 

ALLIGATOR  HUNTING 139 

BEAR  HUNTING  WITH  THE  SEMINOLES 142 

CAPTAIN  TOM  TIGER  (MIC-CO-TUS-TE-NUG-GE)  ....  148 

NANCY  OSCEOLA 154 

BILLY  BOWLEGS 155 

*  RELIGION 162 

BOUGHT  BACK 168 

MOUNDS 169 

„  PICTURE  WRITING 171 

MEDICINE 172 

ABIDING  WORDS  OF  BEAUTY 174 

CONCLUSION 179 


SUPPLEMENT 

THE  LEAST  KNOWN  WILDERNESS  OF  AMERICA       .       .       .       .185 

THE  LAND  OF  THE  SEMINOLE 187 

CROSSING  THE  EVERGLADES  BY  AEROPLANE     .....  190 

EVERGLADE  GEYSER 192^ 

SEMINOLE  HISTORY  REVIEWED 194 

THE  1917  LAND  BILL 199 

A  VISIT  TO  A  SEMINOLE  CAMP    .                      204 

VISITORS  FROM  THE  EVERGLADES 207 

STEM-O-LA-KEE 214 

HOME  AND  RELIGION 223 

SEMINOLE  INCIDENTS 224 

MESSAGES  FROM  THE  EVERGLADES 227 

SEMINOLES  FIRST  SUFFRAGISTS 229 

OSCEOLA — THE  GARIBALDI  OF  THE  SEMINOLES        .       .       .       .231 

SHALL  OSCEOLA'S  BONES  BE  REMOVED? 234 

A  BRONZE  STATUE  IN  THE  EVERGLADES 236 

THE  POCAHONTAS  OF  FLORIDA 242 


CONTENTS 

VOCABULARY 

PAGE 

INTRODUCTION  TO  VOCABULARY 253 

WORDS  REGARDING  PERSONS 255 

PARTS  OF  THE  BODY /.....  256 

DRESS  AND  ORNAMENTS 258 

DWELLINGS,  IMPLEMENTS,  ETC .       .       .  260 

FOOD • .  264 

COLORS "• 265 

NUMERALS 265 

DIVISIONS  OF  TIME 266 

ANIMALS,  PARTS  OF  BODY,  ETC. 268 

BIRDS         .  269 

FISH  AND  REPTILES 270 

INSECTS 271 

PLANTS 272 

THE  FIRMAMENT,  PHYSICAL  PHENOMENA,  ETC 273 

KINSHIP 274 

VERBS,  PHRASES,  SENTENCES 274 

INDIAN  NAMES  OF  SOME  PRESENT  SEMINOLES        .       .       .       .  279 

RHYTHMICAL  NAMES  OF  SOME  FLORIDA  RIVERS  AND  TOWNS  280 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Hoke-ti-chee,  "  Little  Girl  with  the  Bright 

Eyes " Frontispiece 

Florida  Indians  Carrying  Their  Crops  to  the 

Storehouse 6 

An  Indian  Retreat  During  the  Seminole  War  .  .  16 

Micanopy 20 

One  of  the  Last  Seminole  Battle  Grounds  ...  24 

Osceola 30 

Martha  Jane,  "  Bandanna  Mammy "  .  .  .  .  42 

A  Seminole  Dwelling 60 

A  Seminole  Camp-fire 70 

Chieftain  Tallahassee 76 

A  Seminole  Group  of  the  Tallahassee  Band  ...  86 
Chief  Tallahassee,  Martha  Tiger,  She  Yo 

Hee,  Tommy  Hill  and  Milakee  .  .  .  .  90 

Billy  Bowlegs  and  Tommy  Doctor  ....  98 
Hannah,  the  Only  Remaining  Slave  of  the 

Seminoles .  108 

A  Picturesque  Group     .        .        .        .        .        .        .114 

An  Enchanting  Study  of  the  Younger 

Generation 122 

Seminoles  on  the  Miami  River  .  .  .  .  .130 

Tiger  Tail  .  ......  140 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 


Indian    Mode    of    Hunting    Alligators    in 

Florida 144 

Captain  Tom  Tiger 148 

The  Indian's  Hunting  Ground 150 

A  Section  of  a  Saw  Grass  Swamp 156 

Hi-a-tee,  Captain  Tom  Tiger,  Ho-ti-yee  and 

"Little  Tiger" 164 

Dr.  Jimmie  Tustanogee  with  His  Two 

Wives  and  the  Children 168 

Billy  Buster,  Tommy  Hill,  Tallahassee  and 

Charlie  Peacock 172 

The  Wild  Heron  in  Domestication  .  .  .  .176 
The  White  Plumed  Egret  in  a  Florida  Yard  .  .180 

Coacoochee 188 

Latest  Photograph  of  Billy  Bowlegs  .  .  .  .192 

Billy  Bowlegs  and  His  Sister 194 

Osceola,  the  Napoleon  of  the  Seminoles  .  .  .  2OO 
Billy  Bowlegs  Photographed  While  Visiting 

the   Author  202 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

PART  FIRST 
FACTS  OF  EARLIER  DAYS 

THE  history  of  the  American  Indian  is  a  very 
Iliad  of  tragedy.  From  the  day  Columbus  made  the 
first  footprints  of  the  European  in  the  damp  sands  of 
Cat  Island,  the  story  of  the  original  owners  of  fair 
America  has  been  full  of  melancholy,  and  fills  with 
its  dark  pages  every  day  of  a  quartet  of  centuries. 

Columbus  describes  the  innocent  happiness  of  these 
people.  *  They  were  no  wild  savages,  but  very  gen 
tle  and  courteous,"  he  says,  "  without  knowing  what 
evil  is,  without  stealing,  without  killing."  They 
gave  to  him  a  new  world  for  Castile  and  Leon,  while 
in  exchange  he  gave  to  them  "  some  glass  beads  and 
little  red  caps."  The  tragedy  of  the  new  world  be 
gan  when  we  find  this  same  admiral  writing  to  the 
Spanish  majesties  that  he  would  be  able  to  furnish 
them  with  gold,  cotton,  spices,  and  slaves  — "  slaves ! 
as  many  as  their  Highnesses  shall  command  to  be_ 
shipped";  and  thus,  this  land,  a  paradise  of  almost  j 
primeval  loveliness,  was  transformed  into  a  land  of 
cruel  bondage,  desolation  and  death. 

History  scarcely  records  an  instance  when  hospital- 

I 


:2  :     !  THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ity  was  not  extended  by  the  red  man  to  our  first  ex 
plorers.  Swift  canoes  shot  out  from  the  shaded 
shores,  filled  with  men  clad  in  gorgeous  mantles,  and, 
in  broken  accents,  their  greeting  was  "  Welcome !  " 
"  Come,  see  the  people  from  Heaven,"  they  cried, 
but  were  soon  destined  to  believe  they  were  from  a 
very  different  region. 

From  old  Spanish  accounts  we  conclude  that  the 
Indian  population  of  De  Soto's  time  was  very  large, 
and  that  the  natives  were  in  a  higher  state  of  civil 
ization  than  at  any  later  period;  that  their  speech, 
though  brief,  was  chaste,  unaffected,  and  evinced  a 
generous  sentiment.  Cortez  found  the  Aztecs  and 
their  dependencies  challenging  comparison  with  the 
proudest  nations  of  the  world,  and  in  their  barbarous 
magnificence  rivaling  the  splendors  of  the  Orient. 
Advanced  in  the  arts,  dwelling  in  cities,  and  living 
under  a  well-organized  government,  they  were  happy 
in  their  position  and  circumstances. 

Who  were  the  barbarians  of  the  early  history  of 
America,  our  Mayflower  ancestors,  or  the  Red 
Men  of  the  forest? 

With  a  careful  study  of  the  early  records,  the  ques 
tion  answers  itself. 

Four  hundred  years  ago  Indian  warfare  began. 
Shall  it  continue  until  we  exterminate  the  race? 
When  it  is,  alas,  too  late,  the  American  people  will 
awaken  to  the  fact  that  the  preservation  of  the  In 
dian  race  will  be  a  theme  that  will  stir  the  very  heart 
of  the  Nation. 

Shall  Justice  blush  as  the  future  historian  pens  the 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA         3 

account  of  the  vanished  Indian  and  our  treatment 
of  his  race?  Will  Patriotism  hang  her  head  in 
shame  and  confusion  as  the  pen  portrays  the  history 
of  the  red  heroes,  who  gave  up  their  lives  for  their 
home  and  liberty? 

Since  that  sunny  day  in  May,  1539,  when  De  Soto, 
amid  the  salutes  of  artillery,  the  music  of  trumpets, 
the  cheers  of  thousands  of  Castilians,  sailed  into 
Tampa  Bay,  Florida,  has  been  the  scene  of  stirring 
events  —  with  the  Aborigines  forming  a  tragical 
background. 

Marching  across  the  flower-bedecked  country  with 
his  gallant  men  of  Spain,  with  his  cavalry,  with 
fleet  greyhounds  and  furious  bloodhounds  to  turn 
loose  upon  the  savages,  also  handcuffs,  chains  and 
collars  to  secure  them,  with  priests,  workmen  and 
provisions,  this  proud  adventurer  reached  the  present 
site  of  Tallahassee.  Here,  in  this  vicinity,  they 
came  upon  a  fruitful  land,  thickly  populated. 

Ever  pressing  onward  for  the  gold  that  was  sup 
posed  to  abound  in  this  new  land,  one  village  after 
another  was  passed,  when  provisions  and  welcome 
were  furnished  by  the  Laziques. 

On,  on,  the  proud  and  haughty  Spaniards 
marched,  until  they  reached  the  province  of  Cofaqui. 
Here  the  splendor  of  the  reception  would  amaze  us, 
even  to-day.  The  chieftain  and  the  people  gave  up 
their  village  for  the  Spanish  quarters,  moving  to 
another  town  for  the  occasion.  The  following  day 
the  chief  returned,  offering  De  Soto  8,000  armed  In 
dians,  with  maize,  dried  fruits  and  meat  for  the 


4         THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

journey,  4,000  to  act  as  defenders,  4,000  as 
burden  bearers,  to  escort  the  Spaniards  through  a 
wilderness  of  several  days'  journey.  Such  were  the 
proud  an,d  generous  people  the  Caucasians  found  in 
America. 

The  haughty  Castilian  continued  his  march  till  he 
reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  where  he  halted 
and  sent  his  carrier  to  the  chief  on  the  opposite  shore, 
with  the  usual  message,  that  he  was  the  u  Offspring 
of  the  Sunne,  and  required  submission  and  a  visit 
from  the  chief."  But  the  chieftain  sent  back  a  re 
ply,  both  magnanimous  and  proud,  that  if  he  were 
"  the  Childe  of  the  Sunne,  if  he  would  drie  up  the 
River,  he  would  believe  him ;  that  he  was  wont  to  visit 
none;  therefore,  if  he  desired  to  see  him  he  would 
come  thither,  that  if  he  came  in  peace  he  would  re 
ceive  him  in  special  good  will,  and  if  in  Warre  in 
like  manner  he  would  attend  him  in  the  Towne  where 
he  was  and  for  him  or  any  other  he  would  not 
shrinke  one  foot  backe." 

Old  history  says  this  haughty  repulse  aggravated 
the  illness  of  De  Soto,  "  because  he  was  not  able  to 
passe  presently  to  the  River  and  seeke  him,  to  see  if 
he  could  abate  that  Pride  of  his." 

Notwithstanding  the  hospitable  treatment  shown 
by  the  natives  to  the  newcomers,  the  Castilians  de 
stroyed  them  by  the  thousands:  One  explorer  after; 
another  wrote  of  these  friendly  people  in  the  new 
land.  "  They  are  very  liberal,"  says  the  narrator, 
"  for  they  give  what  they  have."  Sir  Ralph  Lane 
describes  the  welcome  by  the  natives,  who  came  with 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA         5 

"  Tobacco,  Corne  and  furs  and  kindly  gestures  to  be 
friends  with  the  strange  white  men,"  etc.,  etc.,  but 
adds,  "  the  Indians  stole  a  Silver  Cup,  wherefore  we 
burnt  their  Towne  and  spoylt  their  Corne,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  time  will  soon  be  over  for  the  study  of  the 
Aborigines  of  America.  We  have  in  250  years 
wasted  them  from  uncounted  numbers  to  a  scattering 
population  of  only  about  275,000,  while  in  the  same 
length  of  time  a  cargo  of  dusky  slaves  from  the 
African  shores  have  become  a  people  of  millions, 
slaves  no  longer,  but  protected  citizens.  In  the  red 
skin,  whom  we  have  dispossessed  of  his  native  rights, 
we  recognize  no  equality;  yet  the  descendant  of  the 
barbarous  black,  whose  tribe  on  the  Golden  Coast 
still  trembles  before  a  fetish,  may  now  sit  at  the  desk 
of  Clay  or  Calhoun.  Truly  the  tangled  threads  of 
modern  morals  are  hard  to  unravel. 

The  first  explorers  made  captives  of  the  Indians, 
and  carried  them  in  irons  to  Spain,  where  they  were 
sold  as  slaves  to  the  Spanish  grandees.  Two  hun 
dred  years  later  the  people  of  Carolina  sought  to 
enslave  those  among  them.  The  red  men  rebelled 
at  the  subjection,  and  in  order  to  escape  bondage, 
began  to  make  their  way  to  the  "  Indian  country," 
the  present  site  of  Georgia.  African  bondsmen  soon 
followed  the  example  of  the  Indian  captives,  and  in 
time  continued  their  journey  to  Florida. 

In  the  attempts  to  recapture  runaway  slaves,  is 
based  the  primeval  cause  of  the  Seminole  wars. 


6         THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ORIGIN   OF    TROUBLES. 

The  history  of  the  Seminoles  of  Florida  begins 
with  their  separation  from  the  Creeks  of  Georgia  as 
early  as  1750,  the  name  Seminole,  in  Indian  dia 
lect  meaning  wild  wanderers  or  runaways.  Sea- 
coffee,  their  leader,  conducted  them  to  the  territory 
of  Florida,  then  under  Spanish  colonial  policy. 
Here,  they  sought  the  protection  of  Spanish  laws, 
refused  in  all  after  times  to  be  represented  in  Creek 
councils,  elected  their  own  chiefs,  and  became,  in  all 
respects,  a  separate  tribe. 

To-day  the  Seminoles  of  Florida  are  only  a  frail 
remnant  of  that  powerful  tribe  of  Osceola's  day. 
Their  history  presents  a  character,  a  power,  and  a 
romance  that  impels  respect  and  an  acknowledgment 
of  their  superiority.  Of  the  private  life  of  the  Semi 
nole  less  is  known,  perhaps,  than  of  any  other  band 
in  the  United  States.  His  life  has  been  one  long 
struggle  for  a  resting-place ;  he  has  fought  for  home, 
happy  hunting  grounds  and  the  burial  place  of  his 
fathers.  At  present  we  can  only  see  a  race  whose 
destiny  says  extinction. 

The  wilds  of  Florida  became  a  home  for  these 
Indians  as  well  as  for  the  fugitive  negro  slaves  of  the 
Southern  States.  The  Indian  and  the  negro  refugee, 
settling  in  the  same  sections,  became  friendly,  and  in 
time  some  of  their  people  intermarried.  The  same 
American  spirit  that  refused  to  submit  to  "  Taxation 
without  Representation,"  was  strong  in  the  breast  of 
the  Seminole,  and  Florida,  belonging  to  Spain,  af- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA         7 

forded  him  a  retreat  for  his  independent  pursuits. 
Subject  only  to  the  Spanish  crown,  the  exiles  found  a 
home  safe  from  the  inexorable  slave  catchers.  The 
Seminoles  were  now  enjoying  liberty,  and  a  social 
solitude,  and  refused  to  make  a  treaty  with  the  colo 
nial  government,  or  with  the  Creeks  from  whom 
they  had  separated.  One  demand  after  another  was 
made  upon  the  Spanish  government  at  St.  Augustine 
for  the  return  of  the  fugitives,  which  was  always 
rejected.  African  slaves  continued  to  flee  from 
their  masters  to  find  refuge  with  the  exiles  and  the 
Indians.  They  were  eagerly  received,  and  kindly 
treated,  and  soon  admitted  to  a  footing  of  equality. 
The  growing  demand  for  slaves  in  the  southern  colo 
nies  now  made  the  outlook  serious,  and  from  the 
attempts  to  compel  the  return  of  the  negroes  grew 
the  first  hostilities. 

One  of  the  first  communications  ever  sent  to  Con 
gress  after  it  met  was  by  the  Georgia  colony,  stating 
that  "  a  large  number  of  continental  troops  would  be 
required  to  prevent  the  slaves  from  deserting  their 
masters."  But,  in  that  momentous  year  of  1776, 
Congress  had  more  important  duties  on  hand,  and  it 
was  not  until  1790  that  a  treaty  was  entered  into  be 
tween  the  Creeks  and  the  United  States.  In  this 
treaty,  the  Creeks,  now  at  enmity  with  the  Seminoles, 
agreed  to  restore  the  slaves  of  the  Georgia  planters 
who  had  taken  refuge  among  them.  The  Seminoles 
refused  to  recognize  the  treaty;  they  were  no 
longer  a  part  of  the  Creeks,  they  resided  in  Florida 
and  considered  themselves  subject  only  to  the  crown 


8         THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

of  Spain.  One  can  readily  believe  that  the  Spanish 
authorities  encouraged  their  independence.  Legally 
the  exiles  had  become  a  free  people. 

The  Creeks  now  found  themselves  utterly  unable 
to  comply  with  their  treaty.  The  planters  of  Geor 
gia  began  to  press  the  Government  for  the  return  of 
their  fugitive  slaves.  Secretary  Knox,  foreseeing  the 
difficulty  of  recovering  runaway  slaves,  wrote  to 
the  President  advising  that  the  Georgia  people  be 
paid  by  the  Government  for  the  loss  of  their  bond 
men.  The  message  was  tabled,  and  until  1810  the 
Seminoles  and  negroes  lived  in  comparative  peace. 

The  people  of  Georgia,  now  seeing  the  only  appar 
ent  way  to  obtain  possession  of  their  slaves  would  be 
by  the  annexation  of  Florida,  began  to  petition  for 
this,  but  the  United  States,  feeling  less  interest  in 
slave  catching  than  did  the  State  of  Georgia,  manipu 
lated  affairs  so  slowly  that  Georgia  determined  to 
redress  her  own  grievances,  entered  Florida  and  be 
gan  hostilities.  The  United  States  was  too  much 
occupied  with  the  war  with  Great  Britian  to  take 
cognizance  of  Indian  troubles  in  a  Spanish  province, 
hence  the  Georgia  intruders  met  with  defeat.  For  a 
short  time  after  these  hostilities  ceased  the  Seminoles 
and  their  allies  enjoyed  prosperity,  cultivated  their 
fields,  told  their  traditions  and  sang  their  rude  lays 
around  their  peaceful  camp  fires.  Seventy-five  years 
had  passed  since  their  ancestors  had  found  a  home  in 
Florida,  and  it  was  hard  for  them  to  understand  the 
claims  of  the  southern  planters. 

The  year  1816  found  the  Seminoles  at  peace  with 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA         9 

the  white  race.  In  a  district  inhabited  by  many  of 
the  Indians  on  the  Appalachicola  river  was  Blount's 
Fort. 

The  fort,  although  Spanish  property,  was  reported 
as  an  "  asylum  for  runaway  negroes."  General 
Jackson,  now  in  military  command,  ordered  the 
"  blowing  up  of  the  fort,  and  the  return  of  the  ne 
groes  to  their  rightful  owners."  The  exiles  know 
ing  little  of  scientific  warfare  believed  themselves  safe 
in  this  retreat;  and  when  in  1816  an  expedition  un 
der  Colonel  Duncan  L.  Clinch  was  planned,  the  hap 
less  Indians  and  negroes  unknowingly  rushed  into  the 
very  jaws  of  death.  A  shot  from  a  gunboat  ex 
ploded  the  magazines  and  destroyed  the  garrison. 
History  records  that  of  334  souls  in  the  fort,  270 
were  instantly  killed!  The  groans  of  the  wounded 
and  dying,  the  savage  war  whoops  of  the  Indians  in 
spired  the  most  fiendish  revenge  in  the  hearts  of  those 
who  escaped,  and  marks  the  beginning  of  the  First 
Seminole  War. 

Savage  vengeance  was  now  on  fire,  and  "Blount's 
Fort  "  became  the  magnetic  war  cry  of  the  Seminole 
chiefs  as  they  urged  their  warriors  to  retaliation. 
This  barbarous  sacrifice  of  innocent  women  and  chil 
dren  conducted  by  a  Christian  nation  against  a  help 
less  race,  and  for  no  other  cause  than  that  their 
ancestors,  one  hundred  years  before,  had  been  born  in 
slavery,  marks  a  period  of  cruelty,  one  of  the  most 
wanton  in  the  history  of  our  nation. 

The  inhuman  way  in  which  the  massacre  was  con 
ducted  was  never  published  at  large,  nor  does  the 


io       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

War  Department  have  any  record  of  the  taking  of 
Blount's  Fort,  as  is  shown  by  the  following: 

An  examination  of  the  records  of  this  Department  has 
been  made,  but  no  information  bearing  upon  the  subject  of 
the  taking  of  Blount's  Fort,  Florida,  in  the  year  1816,  has 
been  found  of  record. 

By  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

F.   C.   AlNSWORTH, 

Colonel,  U.  S.  Army,  Chief  of  Office. 
Washington,  July  25,  1895. 

History  does  not  dwell  on  the  cruel  treatment  the 
Indians  received  from  the  United  States  authorities 
during  the  Seminole  Wars,  yet  pages  of  our  National 
Library  are  devoted  to  the  barbarity  of  the  Sem- 
inoles.  There  are  two  sides  to  every  question,  and 
it  is  only  what  the  Indian  does  to  the  white  man  that 
is  published,  and  not  what  the  white  man  does  to  the 
Indian. 

The  facts  show  that  instead  of  seeking  to  injure 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  the  Seminoles  were, 
and  have  been,  only  anxious  to  be  free  from  all  con 
tact  with  our  government.  In  no  official  correspond 
ence  is  there  any  reference  made  to  acts  of  hostility 
by  the  Indians,  prior  to  the  massacre  at  Blount's 
Fort. 

But  Floridians,  who  had  urged  the  war  with  the 
hope  of  seizing  and  enslaving  the  maroons  of  the 
interior,  now  saw  their  own  plantations  laid  waste, 
villages  abandoned  to  the  enemy,  and  families  suffer 
ing  for  bread.  The  war  had  been  commenced  for 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       n 

an  ignoble  purpose,  to  re-enslave  fellow-men,  and 
taught  that  every  violation  of  justice  is  followed 
by  appropriate  penalties. 

Few  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  knew  the 
true  cause  of  the  war,  nor  the  real  inwardness  of  the 
purposes  of  those  in  command,  as  history  and  official 
documents  show  that  affairs  were  in  the  hands  of  the 
Executive  rather  than  in  those  of  Congress.  The 
first  war  was  in  itself  an  act  of  hostility  to  the  King 
of  Spain;  yet  nothing  was  gained  by  our  government 
except  possession  of  part  of  the  fugitives.  Military 
forces  could  not  pursue  the  Indians  into  the  fastnesses 
of  the  Everglades,  and  after  two  years  of  bloodshed 
and  expenditure  of  thousands  of  dollars,  peace  was  in 
a  manner  restored,  and  the  army  was  withdrawn 
without  any  treaty  being  signed. 


EFFORTS   AT   INDIAN    REMOVAL. 

The  Indians  had  set  the  American  government 
at  defiance.  The  slaves  of  Southern  States  con 
tinued  to  run  away,  taking  refuge  with  the  exiles  and 
Seminoles ;  the  slave-holders  of  Georgia  became  more 
clamorous  than  ever.  The  Spanish  crown  could  not 
protect  herself  from  the  invasion  of  the  Americans 
when  in  pursuit  of  runaway  negroes.  She  had  seen 
her  own  subjects  massacred,  her  forts  destroyed  or 
captured,  and  her  rights  as  a  nation  insulted  by  an 
American  army.  In  1819,  by  a  combination  of  force 
and  negotiation,  Florida  was  purchased  from  Spain 
for  $5,000,000. 


12       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Thus  the  Seminoles  were  brought  under  the  do 
minion  they  so  much  dreaded.  Slave-holders  once 
more  petitioned  to  the  United  States  for  aid  in  the 
capture  of  their  escaped  property.  The  United 
States,  foiled  in  their  treaty  with  the  Creeks,  now 
recognized  the  Seminoles  as  a  distinct  tribe,  and  in 
vited  their  chiefs  to  meet  our  commissioners  and 
negotiate  a  treaty.  The  Seminoles  agreed  in  this 
treaty  to  take  certain  reservations  assigned  to  them, 
the  United  States  covenanting  to  take  the  Florida 
Indians  under  her  care  and  to  afford  them  protection 
against  all  persons  whatsoever,  and  to  restrain  and 
prevent  all  white  persons  from  hunting,  settling  or 
otherwise  intruding  upon  said  lands. 

By  this  treaty  all  their  cultivated  lands  were  given 
up  to  the  whites,  and  the  Seminoles  retired  to  the  in 
terior.  Once  more  this  long  persecuted  people  found 
refuge,  but  it  was  only  for  a  short  time.  The  value 
of  slaves  in  States  North  caused  slave  catchers  with 
-  p.  \  chains  and  bloodhounds  to  enter  Florida.  They 
seized  the  slaves  of  the  Indians,  stole  their  horses  and 
(\\  cattle  and  depredated  their  property.  With  such  a 
violation  of  the  treaty,  renewed  hostilities  were  in- 
evitabTe. 

The  Indians  petitioned  for  redress,  but  received 
none.  Affairs  grew  worse  until  1828,  when  the  idea 
of  emigration  for  the  Indians  was  submitted  to  the 
chiefs.  After  much  persuasion,  a  few  of  the  tribal 
leaders  were  induced  to  visit  the  Western  country. 
They  found  the  climate  cold,  and  a  land  where 
"  snow  covers  the  ground,  and  frosts  chill  the  bodies 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       13 

of  men,"  and  on  general  principles,  Arkansas  a  delu 
sion  and  a  snare.  The  chiefs  had  been  told  they 
might  go  and  see  for  themselves,  but  they  were  not 
obliged  to  move  unless  they  liked  the  land.  In  their 
speech  to  the  Commissioner  they  said :  "  We  are 
not  willing  to  go.  If  our  tongues  say  '  yes,'  our 
hearts  cry  '  no.'  You  would  send  us  among  bad  In 
dians,  with  whom  we  could  never  be  at  rest.  Even 
our  horses  were  stolen  by  the  Pawnees,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  carry  our  packs  on  our  backs.  We  are 
not  hungry  for  other  lands;  we  are  happy  here. 
If  we  are  torn  from  these  forests  our  heartstrings 
will  snap."  Notwithstanding  the  opposition  to  a 
treaty,  by  a  system  of  coercion  a  part  of  the  chiefs 
were  induced  to  sign,  and  fifteen  undoubted  Sem- 
inole  cross-marks  were  affixed  to  the  paper.  This 
was  not  enough,  according  to  Indian  laws,  to  compel 
emigration.  The  stipulations  read,  "  Prepare  -  to 
emigrate  West,  and  join  the  Creeks."  There  was 
no  agreement  that  their  negroes  should  accompany 
them,  and  they  refused  to  move.  To  expect  a  tribe  / 
which  had  lived  at  enmity  with  the  Creeks  since  their  / 
separation  in  1750  to  emigrate  and  live  with  them/ 
was  but  to  put  weapons  into  their  hands,  and  did  not' 
coincide  with  the  ideas  of  the  Seminoles. 

The  United  States  prepared  to  execute;  not  a 
redskin  was  ready,  and  troops  were  sent.  The  In 
dians  began  immediately  to  gather  their  crops,  re 
move  the  squaws  and  pickaninnies  to  places  of  safety, 
secure  war  equipments  —  in  short,  prepare  for  battle. 

It   was   a    question    of   wonderment    many    times 


14       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

among  the  officers  how  the  Indians  procured  their 
ammunition  in  such  quantities,  and  how  they  kept 
from  actual  starvation.  Hidden  as  they  were  in  their 
strong  fortresses  —  the  fastnesses  of  the  swamps  — 
many  believed  that  they  would  be  starved  out,  and 
would  either  stand  a  fair  field  fight  or  sue  for  peace. 
An  old  Florida  settler  who  carried  his  rifle  through 
seven  years  of  Indian  warfare  explains  the  mystery. 
He  says:  "The  Indians  had  been  gathering  pow 
der  and  lead  for  years,  ever  since  the  time  Chief 
Neamathla  made  his  treaty  with  General  Jackson. 
Besides,  Cuban  fishing  smacks  were  always  bringing 
it  in,  and  trading  with  the  redskins  for  hides  and  furs. 
As  for  provisions,  they  had  their  '  Koontie  '  flour, 
the  acorn  of  the  live  oak,  which  is  fair  eating  when 
roasted,  and  the  cabbage  of  the  palmetto  tree.  For 
meat,  the  woods  were  full  of  it.  Deer  and  bear 
were  abundant,  to  say  nothing  of  small  game,  such 
as  wild  turkey,  turtle  and  squirrel."  The  Seminoles 
at  this  time,  1834,  owned,  perhaps,  two  hundred 
slaves,  their  people  had  intermarried  with  the  ma 
roons,  and  in  fighting  for  these  allies  they  were  fight 
ing  for  blood  and  kin.  To  remove  the  Indians  and 
not  the  negroes  was  a  difficult  thing  to  do.  The 
Seminoles,  now  pressed  by  the  United  States  troops, 
committed  depredations  upon  the  whites;  bloody 
tragedies  occurred,  and  the  horrors  of  the  second 
Seminole  War  were  chronicled  throughout  the  land. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       15 


THE    MASSACRE    OF    GENERAL    THOMPSON    AND    OF 


DADES'    FORCES. 


It  was  now  that  the  young  and  daring  warrior, 
Osceola,  came  into  prominence.  He  had  recently 
married  the  daughter  of  an  Indian  chief,  but  whose 
mother  was  the  descendant  of  a  fugitive  slave.  By 
slave-holding  laws,  the  child  follows  the  condition  of 
the  mother,  and  Osceola's  wife  was  called  an  African 
slave.  The  young  warrior,  in  company  with  his 
wife,  visited  the  trading  post  of  Fort  King  for  the 
purpose  of  buying  supplies.  While  there  the  young 
wife  was  seized  and  carried  off  in  chains.  Osceola 
became  wild  with  grief  and  rage,  and  no  knight  of 
cavalier  days  ever  showed  more  valor  than  did  this 
Spartan  Indian  in  the  attempts  to  recapture  his  wife. 
For  this  he  was  arrested  by  order  of  General  Thomp 
son  and  put  in  irons.  With  the  cunning  of  the  In 
dian,  Osceola  affected  penitence  and  was  released; 
but  revenge  was  uppermost  in  his  soul.  The  war 
might  succeed  or  fail  for  all  he  cared;  to  avenge 
the  capture  of  his  wife  was  his  every  thought.  For 
weeks  he  secreted  himself,  watching  an  opportu 
nity  to  murder  General  Thompson  and  his  friends. 
No  influence  could  dissuade  him  from  his  bloody 
purpose.  Discovering  General  Thompson  and  Lieu 
tenant  Smith  taking  a  walk  one  day,  Osceola,  yelling 
the  war  cry  sprang  like  a  mountain  cat  from  his 
hiding-place  and  murdered  both  men. 

His  work  of  vengeance  was  now  complete,  and 
almost  as  wild  as  a  Scandinavian  Saga  was  the  fight 


'i'6       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

he   now   gave   our   generals   for  nearly   two   years. 

While  Osceola  lay  in  wait  for  General  Thompson, 
plans  were  being  completed  which  resulted  in  the 
Dade  Massacre. 

The  enmity  of  the  Indian  is  proverbial,  and  when 
we  reflect  that  for  fifty  years  the  persecutions  by  the 
whites  had  been  "  talked  "  in  their  camps,  that  the 
massacre  of  Blount's  Fort  was  still  unavenged,  that 
within  memory  fathers  and  mothers  had  been  torn, 
moaning  and  groaning  from  their  midst,  to  be  sold 
into  bondage,  with  their  savage  natures  all  on  fire 
for  retaliation,  no  vengeance  was  too  terrible. 

Hostilities  around  Fort  King,  now  the  present  site 
of  Ocala,  becoming  severe,  General  Clinch  ordered 
the  troops  under  Major  Dade,  then  stationed  at 
Fort  Brooke  (Tampa),  to  march  to  his  assistance. 
Neither  officers  nor  soldiers  were  acquainted  with  the 
route,  and  a  negro  guide  was  detailed  to  lead 
them.  This  unique  character  was  Louis  Pacheo,  a 
negro  slave  belonging  to  an  old  Spanish  family,  then 
living  near  Fort  Brooke.  The  slave  was  well  ac 
quainted  with  the  Indians,  spoke  the  Seminole  tongue 
fluently.  He  was  reported  by  his  master,  as  faithful, 
intelligent  and  trustworthy,  and  was  perfectly  famil 
iar  with  the  route  to  Fort  King. 

The  affair  of  Dades'  Massacre  is  without  a  parallel 
in  the  history  of  Indian  warfare.  Of  the  no  souls, 
who,  with  flying  flags  and  sounding  bugles  merrily 
responded  to  General  Clinch's  order,  but  two  lived 
to  describe  in  after  years  the  tragic  scenes.  One  was 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       17 

Private  Clark,  of  the  2nd  Artillery,  who,  wounded 
and  sick  crawled  on  his  hands  and  knees  a  distance 
of  sixty  miles  to  Fort  Brooke.  The  other  was  Louis 
Pacheo,  the  only  person  of  the  command  who  escaped 
without  a  wound. 

The  assault  was  made  shortly  after  the  troops 
crossed  the  Withlacoochee  river,  in  a  broad  expanse 
of  open  pine  woods,  with  here  and  there  clumps  of 
palmettoes  and  tall  wire-grass.  The  Indians  are 
supposed  to  have  out-numbered  the  command,  two  to 
one,  and  at  a  given  signal,  as  the  troops  marched 
gayly  along,  a  volley  of  shot  was  poured  into  their 
number.  The  u  gallant  Dade  "  was  the  first  to  fall, 
pierced  by  a  ball  from  Micanopy's  musket,  who  was 
the  King  of  the  Seminole  nation.  A  breastwork  was 
attempted  by  the  soldiers,  but  only  served  as  a  re 
treat  for  a  short  time;  the  hot  missiles  from  the 
Indians  soon  laid  the  last  man  motionless,  and  the 
slaughter  was  at  an  end. 

On  February  20,  1836,  almost  two  months  after 
the  massacre,  the  dead  bodies  of  the  officers  and  sol 
diers  were  found  just  as  they  had  fallen  on  that  fatal 
day.  History  is  corroborated  by  old  settlers,  who 
say  "  that  the  dead  were  in  no  way  pillaged;  articles 
the  most  esteemed  by  savages  were  untouched,  their 
watches  were  found  in  their  pockets,  and  money,  in 
silver  and  gold,  was  left  to  decay  with  its  owner  — 
a  lesson  to  all  the  world  —  a  testimony  that  the  In 
dians  were  not  fighting  for  plunder!  The  arms  and 
ammunition  were  all  that  had  been  taken,  except  the 


1 8       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 


uniform  coat  of  Major  Dade."  Their  motive  was 
higher  and  purer ;  they  were  fighting  for  their  rights, 
their  homes,  their  very  existence. 

What  became  of  the  negro  guide?  History  re 
cords  that  Louis,  knowing  the  time  and  place  at 
which  the  attack  was  to  be  made,  separated  himself 
from  the  troops.  As  soon  as  the  fire  commenced,  he 
joined  the  Indians  and  negroes,  and  lent  his  efforts  in 
carrying  forth  the  work  of  death.  An  account 
printed  over  forty  years  ago  describes  the  character 
of  the  negro  Louis.  It  reads  as  follows : 

"  The  life  of  the  slave  Louis  is  perhaps  the  most  romantic 
of  any  man  now  living.  Born  and  reared  a  slave,  he  found 
time  to  cultivate  his  intellect  —  was  fond  of  reading;  and 
while  gentlemen  in  the  House  of  Representatives  were  en 
gaged  in  discussing  the  value  of  his  bones  and  sinews,  he 
could  probably  speak  and  write  more  languages  with  ease 
and  facility  than  any  member  of  that  body.  In  revenge 
for  the  oppression  to  wrhich  he  was  subjected,  he  conceived 
the  purpose  of  sacrificing  a  regiment  of  white  men,  who 
were  engaged  in  the  support  of  slavery.  This  object  effected, 
he  asserted  his  own  natural  right  to  freedom,  joined  his 
brethren,  and  made  bloody  war  upon  the  enemies  of  liberty. 
For  two  years  he  was  the  steady  companion  of  Coacoochee, 
or,  as  he  was  afterwards  called,  '  Wild  Cat,'  who  subse 
quently  became  the  most  warlike  chief  in  Florida.  They 
traversed  the  forests  of  that  territory  together,  wading 
through  swamps  and  everglades,  groping  their  way  through 
hornmocks,  and  gliding  over  prairies.  For  two  years  they 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  every  battle;  shared  their  vic 
tories  and  defeats  together;  and,  when  General  Jessup  had 
pledged  the  faith  of  the  nation  that  all  Indians  who  would 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       19 

surrender  should  be  protected  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
slaves,  Wild  Cat  appeared  at  headquarters,  followed  by 
Louis,  whom  he  claimed  as  his  property,  under  slaveholding 
law,  as  he  said  he  had  captured  him  at  the  time  of  Dade's 
defeat." 

Following  Louis  Pacheo's  career,  we  find  him 
sharing  the  fortunes  of  Wild  Cat  in  the  Indian  Ter 
ritory.  Subsequently,  Wild  Cat,  with  a  few  follow 
ers,  Louis  among  the  number,  emigrated  to  Mexico. 
Fifty-seven  years  passed  from  the  date  of  the  Dade 
massacre,  when  Louis  Pacheo,  venerable  and  der 
crepit,  once  more  appeared  on  Florida  soil.  The  old 
negro,  longing  for  the  scenes  of  his  youth,  returned  to 
end  his  days  in  the  hospitable  home  of  his  "  old 
missus."  In  his  confession,  he  claims  to  be  innocent 
of  the  charge  of  betraying  the  troops,  and  asserts 
that  he  was  forced  into  remaining  with  the  Indians. 
The  vagaries  of  a  childish  mind  may  account  for  his 
diversion  from  well-established  history.  The  old 
slave  lived  for  three  years  after  his  return  to  Florida, 
and  died  in  January,  1895,  at  the  age  of  95  years. 


A   DISHONORED  TREATY. 

The  tragic  news  of  the  Dade  Massacre  convinced 
the  United  States  that  war  had  commenced  in  real 
earnest.  From  this  time  on,  skirmish  after  skirmish 
ensued,  bloody  murders  were  committed  by  the  red 
skins,  thousands  of  dollars  were  being  expended  by 
our  government,  and  the  white  population  of  Florida 
was  in  a  suffering  condition.  The  Indians  were  not 


20      THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

suffering  for  food.  The  chameleon-like  character  of 
the  war  prevented  any  certainty  of  success.  General 
Jessup,  considerably  chagrined,  wrote  to  Washington 
for  permission  to  resign  both  the  glory  and  baton  of 
his  command. 

There  could  scarcely  arise  a  more  painful  theme, 
or  one  presenting  a  stranger  variety  of  aspects,  as  it 
whirled  scathing  and  bloodily  along,  than  did  the 
Indian  War.  Yet  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  no 
Seminole  warrior  had  ever  surrendered,  even  to  supe 
rior  numbers.  Our  military  forces  had  learned  what 
a  hydra-headed  monster  the  war  really  was,  and  at 
tempts  were  again  made  to  induce  emigration.  The 
horrors  of  the  Dade  Massacre  and  of  Fort  King  had 
reached  the  world.  General  Jessup  sought  negotia 
tions,  but  found  the  same  difficulties  to  encounter  as 
before,  viz. :  that  the  chiefs  would  not  enter  into  an 
agreement  that  did  not  guarantee  equal  rights  to 
their  allies  as  to  the  Indians.  Official  documents 
show  that  General  Jessup  agreed  that  "  the  Seminoles 
and  their  allies  who  come  in  and  emigrate  West, 
shall  be  secure  in  their  lives  and  property;  that  their 
negroes,  their  bona  fide  property,  shall  accompany 
them  West,  and  that  their  cattle  and  ponies  shall  be 
paid  for  by  the  United  States."  The  Indians,  under 
these  terms,  now  prepared  to  emigrate.  History 
records  that  even  Osceola  avowed  his  intention  to 
accompany  them.  Every  preparation  was  made  to 
emigrate,  and  a  tract  of  land  near  Tampa  was  se 
lected  on  which  to  gather  their  people.  Hundreds 
of  Indians  and  negroes  encamped  there.  Vessels 


Courtesy   of   the   Bureau   of  American   Ethnology. 

MICANOPEE HE   WAS  THE    KING  OF  THE   NATION 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       21 

were  anchored  to  transport  them  to  their  new  homes. 
Peace  was  apparent  everywhere,  and  the  war  declared 
at  an  end.  At  this  point  a  new  difficulty  arose. 
Slave-holders  became  indignant  at  the  stipulations  of 
the  treaty,  and  once  more  commenced  to  seize  ne 
groes.  The  Seminoles,  thinking  themselves  betrayed, 
with  clear  conceptions  of  justice,  fled  to  their  former 
fastnesses  in  the  interior,  and  once  more  determined 
to  defend  their  liberty. 

In  the  violation  of  the  treaty,  to  use  General  Jes- 
sup's  words,  all  was  lost! 

All  the  vengeance  of  the  Indian  was  again  aroused, 
and  the  wild  Seminole  war-cry,  "  Yohoehee !  yohoe- 
hee,"  again  broke  through  the  woods. 

AS-SE-HE-HOLAR,     THE    RISING    SUN,     OR    OSCEOLA. 

The  fame  of  Osceola  now  reached  the  farthermost 
corner  of  the  land.  His  name,  signifying  Rising 
Sun,1  seemed  prophetic,  and  he  became  at  once  the 
warrior  of  the  Ocklawaha,  the  hero  of  the  Semi 
noles.  The  youngest  of  the  chiefs,  he  possessed  a 
magnetism  that  Cyrus  might  have  envied,  and  in  a 
manner  truly  majestic  led  his  warriors  where  he  chose. 

In  the  personal  reminiscences  of  an  old  Florida 
settler,  in  describing  Osceola,  he  says,  "  I  con 
sider  him  one  of  the  greatest  men  this  country  ever 

1  Catlin  and  others  give  "  the  black  drink "  as  the  significa 
tion  of  Osceola,  or  Asseola,  from  the  man's  capacity  for  that 
drink.  Asseola  was  doubtless  the  original  and  true  name.  But 
"  Asse  "  or  "  hasse,"  in  the  present  Seminole  tongue,  means  "  the 
sun."  This,  with  the  affix  "  ola,"  or  "  he-ho-lar,"  would  mean 
"  the  rising  sun  "  rather  than  "  the  black  drink." 


22       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

produced.  He  was  a  great  man,  and  a  curious  one, 
too;  but  few  people  know  him  well  enough  to  appre 
ciate  his  worth.  I  was  raised  within  ten  miles  of 
his  home,  and  it  was  he  who  gave  me  my  first  lessons 
in  woodcraft.  He  was  a  brave  and  generous  foe, 
and  always  protected  women  and  children.  An  act 
of  kindness  was  never  forgotten  by  him.  Osceola 
had  received  a  favor  from  one  of  the  officers  who  led 
the  battle  of  the  Withlacoochee.  Observing  him  in 
the  front  ranks,  he  instantly  gave  orders  that  this 
man  should  be  spared,  but  every  other  officer  should 
be  cut  down.  Osceola's  father  was  an  English 
trader  named  Powell,  and  his  mother  the  daughter 
of  a  chief  known  as  Sallie  Marie,  a  woman  very 
small  in  stature,  and  with  high  cheekbones.  Osceola 
lacked  this  peculiarity,  and  was  one  of  the  finest- 
looking  men  I  ever  saw.  His  carriage  was-erect  and 
lofty,  his  motion  quick,  and  he  had  an  air  of  hauteur 
in  his  countenance  which  arose  from  his  elevated 
pride  of  soul.  His  winning  smile  and  wonderful 
eyes  drew  from  an  army  officer  these  glowing  words 
of  admiration,  "  But  the  eye,  that  herald  of  the 
Soul,  was  in  itself  constituted  to  command.  Under 
excitement  it  flashed  firm  and  stern  resolve;  when  in 
smiling  it  warmed  the  very  heart  of  the  beholder 
with  its  beams  of  kindness.  I  tell  you,  he  was  a 
great  man ;  education  would  have  made  him  the  equal 
of  Napoleon.  He  hated  slavery  as  only  such  a  na 
ture  as  his  could  hate.  He  was  Indian  to  the  heart, 
and  proud  of  his  ancestry.  He  had  too  much  white 
blood  in  him  to  yield  to  the  cowardly  offers  of  the 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      23 

government,  and  had  he  not  been  captured,  the  Semi- 
nole  War  would  have  been  a  more  lasting  one  than 
it  was.  I  could  talk  all  day  about  Osceola,"  re 
marked  the  old  Captain,  as  he  drew  a  sigh.  "  Did 
the  Indians  take  scalps,  Captain  ?  "  "  Take  scalps  ? 
Well,  yes,  if  Osceola  wasn't  around.  He  was  too 
much  of  a  white  man  to  allow  it  himself." 

The  admixture  of  Caucasian  blood  stimulated  the 
ambition  of  Osceola's  Indian  nature;  his  education, 
together  with  the  teachings  of  nature,  made  him 
able  to  cope  with  the  most  learned.  Living  until  he 
was  almost  twelve  years  of  age  in  the  Creek  con 
federacy  of  Georgia,  his  youthful  mind  received  deep 
and  lasting  impressions  from  Tecumseh's  teachings. 
To  these  teachings,  as  well  as  the  blood  he  inherited 
from  his  Spartan  ancestors  was  due,  no  doubt,  his 
supremacy  in  the  Seminole  War.  In  the  manner  in 
which  he  led  the  Seminoles  may  be  seen  the  influence 
of  the  great  Shawnee.1  Osceola's  power  was  in  his 
strong  personal  magnetism;  he  swayed  his  warriors 
with  a  look;  a  shout  of  command  produced  an 
electric  effect  upon  all.  He  was  a  hero  among  his 
people,  he  was  feared  and  dreaded  by  our  officers. 
In  this  day,  as  we  study  his  life  and  character,  we 
must  recognize  in  the  young  Seminole  fighter  the 
greatest  of  chiefs,  the  boldest  of  warriors.  In  an 
old  Greek  fable,  a  man  seeks  to  prove  the  superiority 
of  his  race  by  reading  to  a  lion  accounts  of  various 

1  As  a  glimpse  into  Indian  character,  it  is  worth  recalling  that 
Tecumseh,  the  Shawnee  Chief,  rose  to  the  distinction  of  a  Briga 
dier  General  in  the  British  Army  under  King  George  III,  in  the 
War  of  1812. 


24       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

battles  between  men  and  beasts,  to  which  the  lion 
replied,  "  Ah,  had  we  written  that  book  other  tales 
would  have  been  told."  In  the  case  of  the  Indian 
chieftain  no  such  records  exist,  yet  even  from  the 
testimony  of  his  enemies  we  must  know  Osceola. 

Interviewing  old  settlers  who  well  remember 
events  of  those  stirring  times,  one  finds  the  heroic 
part  of  Osceola's  character  to  have  been  not  over 
drawn  in  history.  The  Seminole  chief,  Charles 
Omatla,  was  an  ally  of  the  whites,  and  was  attacked 
and  murdered  by  Osceola's  warriors.  On  his  body 
was  found  gold,  which  Osceola  forbade  his  men  to 
touch,  but  with  his  own  hands  he  threw  the  gold 
himself  as  far  as  he  could  hurl  it,  saying,  "  it  is  the 
price  of  the  red  man's  blood." 

Osceola's  pride  was  majestic;  he  was  imperious, 
full  of  honor,  but  with  the  quickness  of  the  Indian 
he  noted  the  path  to  popular  favor.  His  power  was 
recognized  by  the  officers.  "  Talk  after  talk,"  with 
the  Indians  was  the  order  of  the  times.  It  was  at 
one  of  these  meetings  that  Osceola  in  the  presence 
of  the  commissioners  attracted  attention  by  saying, 
1  This  is  the  only  treaty  I  will  ever  make  with  the 
whites,"  at  the  same  time  drawing  his  knife  and 
striking  it  into  the  table  before  him.  The  cause  of 
this  outburst  was  that  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty 
guaranteed  no  protection  to  the  allies.  He  was  ar 
rested  for  his  insolence,  but  was  released  on  a  com 
promise.  His  vengeance  became  more  terrible  than 
ever,  and  in  defiance  "  Yohoehee  "  echoed  through 
the  woods  and  "  war  to  the  knife  "  was  resumed. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       25 

It  was  now  that  the  daring  chief  made  the  bold  and 
well-conducted  assault  against  the  fort  at  Micanopy. 
A  short  time  after,  this  savage  hero  performed  a 
piece  of  strategy  before  unheard  of  in  the  annals  of 
war.  Surrounded  by  two  armies  of  equal  strength 
with  his  own,  he  carried  away  his  warriors  without 
leaving  a  trace  of  his  retreat.  That  host  of  Indian 
braves  melted  out  of  sight  as  if  by  magic,  and  our 
disappointed  generals  could  not  but  agree  that  a  dis 
ciplined  army  was  not  adapted  to  the  work  of  sur 
prising  Indians.  They  were  learning  to  recognize 
the  character  of  the  men  our  nation  had  to  deal  with. 

The  Indian  method  is  to  decoy  by  a  broad  plain 
trail,  then  at  a  certain  distance  the  foremost  of  the 
band  makes  a  high,  long  step,  leaves  the  trail  and, 
alighting  on  the  tip  of  his  toe,  carefully  smoothes 
out  the  brushed  blades  behind  him.  The  rest  of  the 
band  go  on  a  few  yards  farther  and  make  their  exit 
the  same  way,  and  so  on  till  the  end  is  reached. 
Many  times  our  troops  made  long  night  marches  to 
find  —  what?  Nothing  but  a  few  smouldering 
camp  fires. 

The  war  raged  on  in  defiance  of  the  power  of  a 
mighty  nation,  a  nation  that  had  said  to  old  King 
George,  "  attend  to  your  own  affairs "  and  he 
obeyed. 

What  shall  we  say  of  the  capture  of  the  great 
Indian  chief.  Is  not  the  seizure  of  Osceola  Amer 
ica's  blackest  chapter?  Was  Osceola  treacherous? 
The  United  States  failed  to  observe  even  one  im 
portant  article  of  the  three  treaties  made  with  the 


26       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Seminoles.  Was  Osceola  a  savage  ?  It  is  not  denied 
that  he  protected  women  and  children  when  he  could. 
It  is  not  denied  that  the  soldiers  of  the  United  States 
shot  down  women  and  children,  destroyed  all  dwell 
ings,  crops  and  fruit  trees  they  could  reach. 

OSCEOLA'S  CAPTURE. 

After  months  of  warfare,  a  conference  among  the 
Indians  with  a  view  to  a  treaty  of  peace  was  held. 
An  Indian  chief  was  sent  to  the  American  quarters. 

Picture,  if  you  will,  an  American  camp,  in  the 
wooded  wilds  of  Florida,  and  peer  beyond  the  con 
fines  of  the  magnolia  and  the  palms  and  you  see  a 
single  Seminole  chieftan,  heralding  his  white  flag. 
He  approaches  our  General,  the  representative  of 
proud  and  free  America,  and  presents  him  with  a- 
white  plume  plucked  from  the  egret,  with  a  message 
from  Osceola,  with  these  words,  "  the  path  shall 
be  white  and  safe  from  the  great  white  chieftain's 
camp  to  the  lodge  of  Osceola." 

General  Hernandez  immediately  despatched  Coa- 
coochee  with  a  pipe  of  peace,  kindly  messages  and 
presents. 

What  was  the  result?  Osceola,  in  company  with 
Wild  Cat  and  other  chiefs,  accepted  the  truce  and, 
under  the  sacred  emblem  of  the  white  flag,  met  Gen 
eral  Hernandez  on  October  21,  1837  at  St.  Augus 
tine. 

With  that  grave  dignity  characteristic  of  the  red 
man,  dressed  in  costume  becoming  their  station, 
with  as  courtly  a  bearing  as  ever  graced  Kings, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       27 

heralding  their  white  flags  they  approached  the  place 
of  meeting. 

History  verifies  the  Seminole  account  of  this  blot 
on  our  nation  that,  as  the  officers  approached,  they 
asked  of  Osceola :  "  Are  you  prepared  to  deliver  up 
the  negroes  taken  from  the  citizens?  Why  have  you 
not  surrendered  them  as  promised  by  your  chief 
Cohadjo?" 

According  to  history,  this  promise  had  been  made 
by  a  sub-chief  and  without  the  consent  of  the  tribe. 
A  signal,  preconcerted,  was  at  this  moment  given 
and  armed  soldiers  rushed  in  and  made  prisoners  of 
the  chiefs. 

An  account  of  this  violated  honor,  recently  given  by 
the  venerable  John  S.  Masters,  of  St.  Augustine, 
Florida,  is  opportune  at  this  point.  The  old  soldier 
in  speaking  of  the  affair  said,  u  I  was  one  of  the 
party  sent  out  to  meet  Osceola  when  he  was  coming 
to  St.  Augustine  under  a  flag  of  truce."  "  Did  you 
honor  that  truce?  "  was  asked.  "  Did  we?  No  sir; 
no  sooner  was  he  safe  within  our  lines  than  the 
order  to  seize  him,  kill  if  necessary,  was  given,  and 
one  of  the  soldiers  knocked  him  down  with  the  butt 
of  his  musket.  He  was  then  bound  and  we  brought 
him  to  Fort  Marion  and  he  was  put  in  the  dungeon. 
We  were  all  outraged  by  the  cowardly  way  he  was 
betrayed  into  being  captured." 

At  this  violation  of  the  sanctity  of  the  white  flag 
our  officers  wrote:  "  The  end  justifies  the  means; 
they  have  made  fools  of  us  too  often." 

The  foul  means  used  to  capture  the  young  Semin- 


28       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ole  leader  was  not  blessed  by  victory,  as  a  continu 
ance  of  the  bloody  war  for  five  years  proved  that  the 
God  of  justice  was  not  wholly  on  the  white  man's 
side.  The  stain  on  our  national  honor  will  last  as 
long  as  we  have  a  history.  Osceola  with  the  other 
chiefs  was  confined  for  a  short  time  in  St.  Augus 
tine,  but  the  daring  savage  was  too  valuable  a  prize 
to  trust  on  Florida  territory,  and  he  was  taken  to 
Fort  Moultrie  where  he  died  January  30,  1838,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-four  years. 

It  is  related  that  Osceola  on  being  questioned  as 
to  why  he  did  not  make  his  escape,  as  did  some  of 
the  other  chiefs  from  Fort  Marion,  replied,  "  I 
have  done  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of;  it  is  for  those 
to  feel  shame  who  entrapped  me."  Chas.  H.  Coe, 
in  his  Red  Patriots  says,  "  If  the  painter  of  the  world- 
famed  picture,  Christ  before  Pilate,  should  seek  in 
American  history  a  subject  worthy  of  his  brush,  we 
should  commend  to  him,  Osceola,  before  General 
Jessup.  Osceola,  the  despised  Seminole,  a  cap 
tive  and  in  chains;  Jessup,  in  all  the  pomp  and 
circumstances  of  an  American  Major-General;  Osce 
ola,  who  had  "  done  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of," 
calmly  confronting  his  captor,  who  cowers  under  the 
steady  gaze  of  a  brave  and  honorable  man!  " 

But  such  is  the  Irony  of  Fate.  Osceola,  the  free 
son  of  the  forest,  fettered  by  the  chains  of  Injustice, 
was  destined  to  eat  out  his  heart  in  a  musty  dun 
geon. 

Thoroughly  and  thrillingly  dramatic  was  the  death 
scene  of  the  noble  Osceola  as  given  by  Dr.  Weedon 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       29 

his  attending  surgeon.  Confinement  no  doubt  hast 
ened  his  death,  and  his  proud  spirit  sank  under  the 
doom  of  prison  life.  He  seemed  to  feel  the  ap 
proach  of  death,  and  about  half  an  hour  before  the 
summons  came  he  signified  by  signs  —  he  could  not 
speak  —  that  he  wished  to  see  the  chiefs  and  offi 
cers  of  the  post.  Making  known  that  he  wished  his 
full  dress,  which  he  wore  in  time  of  war,  it  was 
brought  him,  and  rising  from  his  bed  he  dressed 
himself  in  the  insignia  of  a  chief.  Exhausted  by 
these  efforts  the  swelling  heart  of  the  tempest-tossed 
frame  subsided  into  stillest  melancholy.  With  the 
death  sweat  already  upon  his  brow,  Osceola  lay 
down  a  few  minutes  to  recover  his  strength.  Then, 
rising  as  before,  with  gloom  dispelled,  and  a  face 
agleam  with  smiles,  the  young  warrior  reached  forth 
his  hand  and  in  dead  silence  bade  each  and  all  the  offi 
cers  and  chiefs  a  last  farewell.  By  his  couch  knelt 
his  two  wives  and  his  little  children.  With  the 
same  oppressive  silence  he  tenderly  shook  hands  with 
these  loved  ones.  Then  signifying  his  wish  to  be 
lowered  on  his  bed,  with  slow  hand  he  drew  from  his 
war  belt  his  scalping  knife  which  he  firmly  grasped 
in  his  right  hand,  laying  it  across  the  other  on  his 
breast.  In  another  moment  he  smiled  away  his  last 
breath,  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan.  In  that 
death  chamber  there  was  not  one  tearless  eye. 
Friends  and  foes  alike  wept  over  the  dying  chief. 
Osceola  died  as  he  lived  —  a  hero  among  men. 

OSCEOLA  — PATRIOT  AND  WARRIOR, 
DIED,  JAN.  30—1838. 


30       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Such  is  the  inscription,  that  marks  the  grave  of  the 
hero  of  the  Seminoles. 

Even  at  this  writing,  it  is  a  melancholy  satisfaction 
to  know  that  the  great  Indian  leader  was  buried  with 
the  honor  and  respect  due  so  worthy  a  foe. 

A  detachment  of  the  United  States  troops  followed 
by  the  medical  men  a^d  many  private  citizens,  to 
gether  with  all  the  chiefs,  and  warriors,  women  and 
children  of  the  garrison  in  a  body,  escorted  the  re 
mains  to  the  grave,  which  was  located  near  the  en 
trance  to  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston  Harbor.  A 
military  salute  was  fired  over  the  grave  and  as  the 
sound  reverberated  over  the  dark  waters  of  the  bay, 
Justice  and  Patriotism,  must  have  pointed  with  fin 
gers  of  scorn  to  our  great  Nation,  yet  with  tender 
pity,  said  "  Osceola  —  the  Rising  Sun,  may  the 
Great  Spirit  avenge  you,  keep  you,  love  you  and 
cherish  you, —  the  Defender  of  your  country." 

THE  HIDDEN  WAR  CAMP. 

WILD  CAT  and  Cohadjo  were  allowed  to  remain 
in  old  Fort  Marion  the  prison  at  St.  Augustine, 
Florida.  Wild  Cat  feigned  sickness  and  was  per 
mitted,  under  guard,  to  go  to  the  woods  to  obtain 
some  roots;  with  these  he  reduced  his  size  until 
he  was  able  to  crawl  through  an  aperture  that  ad 
mitted  light  into  the  cell.  Letting  himself  down  by 
ropes  made  of  the  bedding,  a  distance  of  fifty  feet, 
he  made  his  escape,  joined  his  tribe  and  once  more 
rallied  his  forces  against  our  army.  Latter  day 


Courtesy    of   the   Bureau    of   American    litlnwlogv. 

OSCEOLA 

A    copy    from    Catlin's    painting. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      31 

critics  have  questioned  the  correctness  of  this  bit  of 
written  history.  Last  winter,  during  the  height  of 
the  season,  the  Ponce  de  Leon  guests  enjoyed  a 
unique  entertainment.  A  wealthy  tourist  made  a 
wager  of  one  hundred  dollars  that  "  Wild  Cat  never 
could  have  made  his  escape  through  the  little  win 
dow  in  the  old  castle."  Sergeant  Brown  accepted 
the  wager  and  himself  performed  the  feat,  to  the 
great  delight  of  the  excited  spectators. 

Our  soldiers  righting  in  an  unexplored  wilderness, 
along  the  dark  borders  of  swamp  and  morass,  crawl 
ing  many  times  on  hands  and  kness  through  the 
tangled  matted  underbrush,  righting  these  children  of 
the  forest  who  knew  every  inch  of  their  ground  could 
hope  for  little  less  than  defeat.  Even  General 
Jessup  in  writing  to  the  President  said:  "  We  are  at 
tempting  to  remove  the  Indians  when  they  are  not  in 
the  way  of  the  white  settlers,  and  when  the  greater 
portion  of  the  country  is  an  unexplored  wilderness, 
of  the  interior  of  which  we  are  as  ignorant  as  of  the 
interior  of  China." 

By  way  of  illustrating  the  enormity  of  the  task  the 
government  had  in  subduing  the  Seminoles,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  describe  one  of  the  many  Indian  strong 
holds  in  the  swamps  of  Florida.  About  ten  miles 
from  Kissimmee,  west  by  south,  is  a  cypress  swamp 
made  by  the  junction  of  the  Davenport,  Reedy  and 
Bonnett  creeks.  It  is  an  aquatic  jungle,  full  of  fallen 
trees,  brush,  vines  and  tangled  undergrowth,  all  dark 
ened  by  the  dense  shadows  of  the  tall  cypress  trees. 
The  surface  is  covered  with  water,  which,  from  ap- 


32       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

pearance  may  be  any  depth,  from  six  inches  to  six 
feet;  this  infested  with  alligators  and  moccasins 
would  have  been  an  unsurmountable  barrier  to  the 
white  troops. 

A  few  years  ago  when  the  Seminoles  yet  fre 
quented  this  section  for  trading  purposes  old  settlers 
have  seen  them  coming  from  the  swamp  carrying  bags 
of  oranges.  Interrogations  received  no  answers  and 
white  settlers  year  after  year  searched  for  the  tra 
ditional  orange  grove,  but  without  success. 

So  difficult  to  penetrate  and  so  dangerous  to  ex 
plore  is  the  swamp  that  is  was  not  until  fifty  years 
after  the  Indians  had  left  their  island  home  that  a 
venturesome  hunter,  during  a  very  dry  season,  acci 
dentally  discovered  the  old  Seminole  camp.  The  In 
dian  mound,  the  broken  pottery  and  the  long  hunted 
for  sweet  orange  grove  were  proofs  of  the  old  camp. 
The  majestic  orange  trees  laden  with  golden  fruit 
were  an  incentive  to  further  research.  With  a  sur 
veyor  working  his  way,  as  guided  by  the  point  of  the 
compass,  this  wonderland  was  explored,  and  proved 
to  be  a  complete  chain  of  small  hommocks  or  islands 
running  through  from  one  side  of  the  swamp  to  the 
other;  the  topography  of  the  marsh  being  such  that 
a  skirmish  could  take  place  on  one  side  of  the  jungle 
and  an  hour  later,  by  means  of  the  secret  route 
through  the  swamp,  the  Indians  could  be  ready  for  an 
attack  on  the  other  side,  while  for  the  troops  to  reach 
the  same  point,  by  following  the  only  road  known  to 
them,  it  would  have  required  nearly  a  day's  march 
ing.  The  Indian  trail  is  lost  in  the  almost  impene- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       33 

trable  jungle;  but  the  tomahawk  blazes  are  perfectly 
discernible.  The  Seminoles  held  the  key  to  these 
mysterious  islands  and  in  the  heart  of  the  great 
swamps  they  lived  free  from  any  danger  of  surprise. 
This  retreat  must  have  been  a  grand  rendezvous  for 
them,  as  its  geographical  position  was  almost  central 
between  the  principal  forts.  Lying  between  Fort 
Brooke  (Tampa)  and  Fort  King  (Ocala),  within 
a  distance  of  thirty  miles  from  the  scene  of  the  Dade 
massacre,  about  forty  miles  from  Fort  Mellon,  the 
present  site  of  Sanford,  the  camp  could  have  been 
reached  in  a  few  hours  by  Indian  runners  after  spy 
ing  the  movements  of  the  troops  at  any  of  the  forts. 
The  old  government  road,  over  which  the  soldiers 
passed  in  going  from  Fort  Brooke  to  Fort  Mellon, 
passes  so  close  to  the  old  Indian  camping  ground 
that  all  travel  could  have  been  watched  by  the  keen- 
eyed  warriors. 


WILD  CAT  AND  GENERAL  WORTH. 

AT  this  period  of  our  national  history  we  are  un 
able  to  picture  or  appreciate  the  condition  of  those 
slave  days,  when  all  blacks  of  Southern  States  were 
regarded  as  the  property  of  the  whites.  The  fear, 
the  torture,  the  grief  suffered  by  the  negroes  and  half 
breeds,  who  had  been  a  people  with  the  Seminoles  al 
most  one  hundred  years,  is  beyond  our  conception. 
When  Indian  husbands  were  separated  from  wives 
selected  from  the  exiles,  when  children  were  torn 
from  their  homes  and  carried  to  slavery,  the  venge- 


34       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ance  of  these  persecuted  people  was  constantly 
alive.  Persons  of  disreputable  character  —  gam 
blers,  horse  thieves  —  were  employed  as  slave  catch 
ers  and  showed  no  mercy  to  the  helpless  victim. 

After  the  violation  of  the  treaty  at  Tampa,  and 
the  capture  of  Osceola  and  Wild  Cat,  under  the 
sacred  truce  of  the  white  flag,  Wild  Cat  became  a 
most  daring  enemy  to  the  troops,  and  kept  his  war 
riors  inspired  to  the  most  savage  hostilities. 

General  Scott  was  now  placed  in  command  of  the 
army,  yet  the  same  harassing  marches  continued,  and 
it  was  not  until  seven  generals  had  been  defeated  at 
the  game  of  Indian  warfare  by  the  wily  chieftains 
that  any  sign  of  success  was  apparent. 

Our  government,  discouraged  at  being  unable  to 
conquer  the  Indians  or  protect  the  white  settlers, 
again  negotiated  for  peace,  but  using  a  more  power 
ful  weapon  than  in  former  years,  that  of  moral 
suasion.  Executive  documents  show  that,  all 
through  the  war,  artifice  and  bad  faith  were  practiced 
upon  the  Indians.  The  government  was  astonished 
that  a  few  Indians  and  their  negro  allies  could  defy 
United  States  troops.  All  efforts  had  failed,  even 
to  the  horrible  policy  of  employing  bloodhounds. 
To-day  we  shudder  at  the  barbarity  of  such  an  act, 
but  official  documents  show  how  much  the  subject  was 
discussed  by  Congress  and  war  authorities.  A 
schooner  was  dispatched  to  Cuba  and  returned  with 
thirty-five  bloodhounds  —  costing  the  Government 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  apiece.  They  were 
speedily  put  upon  the  scent  of  Indian  scouting  parties, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       35 

but  proved  utterly  inefficient.  The  public  believed 
the  hounds  were  to  trail  Indians,  but  reports  show 
their  use  was  to  capture  negro  slaves.  The  Semi- 
noles  were  a  species  of  game  to  which  Cuban  hounds 
were  unaccustomed  and  they  refused  to  form  ac 
quaintance  with  the  new  and  strange  objects.  The 
Indians  had  a  secret  peculiarly  their  own  of  throwing 
the  dogs  off  the  scent,  and  the  experiment,  to  close 
the  war  thus,  proved  a  failure  and  served  no  other 
purpose  than  to  reflect  dishonor  on  our  nation. 

Wild  Cat,  after  his  escape  from  prison,  was  a  ter 
rible  and  unrelenting  foe.  Occupying  with  light 
canoes  the  miry,  shallow  creeks,  and  matted  brakes 
upon  their  border,  he  was  unapproachable.  A  flag 
was  sent  him  by  General  Worth,  but,  remembering 
well  another  flag  which  had  meant  betrayal,  capture 
and  chains,  the  daring  hero  fired  upon  it  and  refused 
to  meet  the  general.  In  the  summer  of  1841,  Gen 
eral  Worth's  command  captured  the  little  daughter 
of  Wild  Cat  and  held  her  for  ransom.  The  little 
girl, —  his  only  child  —  was  the  idol  of  the  old  war 
rior's  heart.  On  learning  of  her  capture,  Wild  Cat 
relented,  and,  once  more  guarded  by  the  white  flag, 
was  conveyed  to  General  Worth's  camp.  History 
gives  an  interesting  acount  of  the  old  chief's  ap 
proach.  His  little  daughter,  on  seeing  him,  ran  to 
meet  him,  presenting  him  with  musket  balls  and 
powder,  which  she  had  in  some  way  obtained  from 
the  soldiers.  So  much  overcome  was  the  fearless 
savage  on  meeting  his  child  that  the  dignified  bear- 


36       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ing  so  carefully  practiced  by  all  Indians  gave  way 
to  the  most  tender  emotions. 

The  moral  suasion,  the  humanity  of  General 
Worth  made  a  friend  of  Wild  Cat,  and  he  yielded  to 
the  stipulations. 

The  speech  of  the  old  chieftain,  because  it  breathes 
the  same  sentiment  of  the  Seminoles  of  to-day,  we 
give  below.  Addressing  General  Worth,  he  said: 

"  The  whites  dealt  unjustly  with  me.  I  came 
to  them  when  they  deceived  me.  I  loved  the  land 
I  was  upon.  My  body  is  made  of  its  sands.  The 
Great  Spirit  gave  me  legs  to  walk  over  it,  eyes  to  sec 
it,  hands  to  aid  myself,  a  head  with  which  I  think. 
The  sun  which  shines  warm  and  bright  brings  forth 
our  crops,  and  the  moon  brings  back  spirits  of  our 
warriors,  our  fathers,  our  wives,  and  our  children. 
The  white  man  comes,  he  grows  pale  and  sickly ;  why 
can  we  not  live  in  peace?  They  steal  our  horses  and 
cattle,  cheat  us  and  take  our  lands.  They  may  shoot 
us,  chain  our  hands  and  feet,  but  the  red  man's  heart 
will  be  free.  I  have  come  to  you  in  peace,  and  have 
taken  you  by  the  hand.  I  will  sleep  in  your  camp, 
though  your  soldiers  stand  around  me  thick  as  pine 
trees.  I  am  done.  When  we  know  each  other  bet 
ter,  I  will  say  more." 

Through  the  gentleness  and  humanity  of  the  "  gal 
lant  Worth,"  Wild  Cat  at  this  meeting  agreed  to 
emigrate  with  his  people.  He  was  permitted  to  leave 
the  camp  for  this  purpose.  By  some  contradictory 
order,  while  on  his  way  to  his  warriors,  he  was  cap- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       37 

tured  by  one  of  our  commands,  put  in  chains  and 
transported  to  New  Orleans. 

When  General  Worth  learned  of  this  violation  of 
his  pledge  he  felt  the  honor  of  our  country  had 
again  been  betrayed,  and  acting  on  his  own  discre 
tion  sent  a  trusty  officer  to  New  Orleans  for  the  re 
turn  of  Wild  Cat.  General  Worth  by  this  act  not 
only  showed  the  nobility  of  his  own  character,  but 
proved  that  the  savage  heart  can  be  touched  with 
kindness  and  is  always  keenly  alive  to  honor  and 
faithful  pledges.  Moreover  the  justice  of  the  act 
had  much  to  do  with  the  successful  turning  of  the 
war. 

When  the  ship  which  brought  the  chief  reached 
Tampa  General  Worth  was  there  to  meet  it  and 
publicly  apologized  to  the  brave  old  warrior  for  the 
mistake  that  had  been  made.  Our  gallant  com 
mander  had  proven  his  humane  heart,  although  at 
expense  of  both  time  and  money.  Through  the 
policy  of  General  Worth,  the  whole  character  of  the 
war  was  changed.  On  the  3ist  of  July,  1841,  Wild 
Cat's  entire  band  was  encamped  at  Tampa,  ready  to 
be  transported  to  their  new  homes. 

The  original  idea  of  re-enslaving  the  fugitives  was 
abandoned.  General  Worth  and  Wild  Cat  now  be 
came  the  most  ardent  friends,  the  general  consult 
ing  with  the  famous  chieftain  until  every  arrange 
ment  for  the  removal  was  perfected.  Seeing  a  chief 
of  such  prominence  yield  to  emigration,  band  after 
band  gave  up  the  fight  and  joined  their  friends  at 
Tampa.  From  the  time  of  Wild  Cat's  removal  in 


38       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

the  fall  of  1841,  until  August,  1843,  small  bands  of 
Indians  continued  to  emigrate.  General  Worth  now 
advised  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops.  A  few  small 
bands  throughout  the  State  refused  to  move,  signed 
terms  of  peace,  however,  by  which  they  were  to  con 
fine  themselves  u  to  the  southern  portion  of  the 
Peninsula  and  abstain  from  all  acts  of  aggression 
upon  their  white  neighbors."  As  vessel  after  vessel 
anchored  in  Tampa  Bay  to  carry  these  wronged  and 
persecuted  people  to  their  distant  homes,  the  cruelty 
of  the  undertaking  was  apparent  to  the  most  callous 
heart.  With  lingering  looks  the  Seminoles  saw  the 
loved  scenes  of  their  childhood  fade  away.  The 
wails  and  anguish  of  those  heart-broken  people,  as  the 
ships  left  the  shores,  touched  the  hearts  of  the  most 
hardened  sailor.  They  were  leaving  the  graves  of 
their  fathers,  their  happy  hunting  grounds,  beautiful 
flowery  Florida.  But  it  is  the  destiny  of  the  Indian. 
Among  that  band  there  was  not  one  voluntary  exile. 
Poets  and  artists  picture  the  gloom,  the  breaking 
hearts  of  the  French  leaving  Acadia;  at  a  later  day 
the  same  sad  scenes  were  witnessed  on  the  Florida 
coast,  but  it  was  not  until  years  after  that  a  philan 
thropist  gave  to  the  world  an  intimation  of  the  melan 
choly  picture  of  these  poor  struggling,  long  hunted 
Seminoles  leaving  the  shores  of  their  native  lands. 

INDIAN  WARFARE. 

THERE  is  something  intensely  sad  in  the  history 
of  the  Indians  who  were  left  in  Florida  at  the  close 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      39 

of  the  "  seven  years'  war."  Keeping  faith  with  their 
promise  to  abstain  from  all  aggression  on  their  white 
neighbors,  retiring  to  the  uninhabited  marshes  of 
the  Southern  Peninsula,  they  lived  happy  and  con 
tented  for  thirteen  years.  Then  came  reports  of 
outbreaks  and  the  United  States  again  opened  mili 
tary  tactics  with  the  resolve  to  drive  this  brave 
and  liberty  loving  remnant  from  their  last  foothold 
on  Florida  soil. 

According  to  the  most  authentic  reports,  the 
trouble  was  brought  on  by  some  white  engineers  en 
camped  near  the  border  of  the  Big  Cypress.  It  was 
in  the  year  1855  and  the  United  States  was  making 
a  general  survey  of  Florida.  Old  Billy  Bowlegs, 
recognized  as  the  head  of  his  tribe,  and  living  at 
peace  with  all  the  world,  had  a  fine  garden  in  this 
swamp  and  in  it  were  some  magnificent  banana 
plants,  which  were  the  delight  of  the  old  Indian's 
heart. 

As  the  old  warrior  visited  his  garden  early  one 
morning,  he  discovered  some  ruthless  hand  had 
ruined  his  garden.  They  were  deliberately  cut  and 
torn  to  pieces.  Going  to  the  engineers'  camp,  he  ac 
cused  the  men  of  the  outrage,  when  they  insolently 
admitted  it,  refusing  to  make  amends,  and  saying  that 
they  wanted  to  "  see  old  Billy  cut  up."  And  they 
did! 

The  government  paid  for  it  to  the  extent  of  sev 
eral  thousand  dollars,  a  number  of  lives  and  add 
ing  another  dark  page  in  the  history  of  our  Nation. 

No  white  man  would  have  submitted  to  the  out- 


40       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

rage,  neither  did  the  famous  Chief.  Summoning  his 
braves  early  the  next  morning,  the  war  cry  "  Yo- 
ho-ee-hee,"  was  heard  and  Lieutenant  Hartsuff  and 
his  men  were  fired  upon,  some  of  them  being 
wounded. 

Like  a  flash  of  electricity  the  news  encircled  Flor 
ida,  and  Billy  Bowlegs  became  the  target  of  many  old 
muskets. 

Then  came  the  clamor  of  white  settlers  for  the  re 
moval  of  the  "  savages  "  and  white  guerrillas  dressed 
and  painted  as  Indians  went  about  the  country  rob 
bing  and  murdering  mail  and  express  riders,  driv 
ing  off  stock,  burning  houses  and  committing  other 
lawless  deeds.  Old  inhabitants  tell  of  these  depre 
dations.  But  there  was  a  reason  for  such  cowardly 
acts.  The  Government  at  Washington  was  perplexed 
and,  not  grasping  the  fact  that  the  raids  were  perpe 
trated  by  white  men,  disguised  as  Indians,  believing 
that  military  forces  could  do  nothing  towards  break 
ing  up  the  warfare,  designed  the  plan  of  offering  the 
sum  of  $100  to  $500  for  living  Indians  delivered  at 
Fort  Brooke  (Tampa)  or  at  Fort  Myers.  After 
Govermental  hunting  for  three  years,  the  white 
guerrillas  still  busy  with  their  malicious  depredations, 
Old  Billy  Bowlegs,  with  his  band  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  persons,  was  induced  to  emigrate,  but  they  went 
with  sore  unwillingless,  silent  or  weeping  towards  the 
land  of  the  setting  sun,  driven  before  the  power  of 
the  white  man,  a  group  of  broken-hearted  exiles. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      41 


INTERLUDE 

'  DAT   SEMINOLE   TREATY   DINNER/ 

THE  author  begs  the  indulgence  of  the  reader  in 
giving  the  following  dialect  story  of  that  historic 
Treaty  Dinner,  when  our  gallant  American  General 
Worth  made  peace  terms  with  the  Indians  in  1842. 

The  treaty  was  signed  at  Fort  King,  now  the  pres 
ent  site  of  Ocala,  Florida,  and  as  one  listens  to  the 
story  of  that  eventful  day,  a  story  complete  in  its 
setting  as  told  by  our  old  Bandanna  Mammy,  the 
heart  throbs  and  the  pulse  grows  quicker  —  so  vivid 
is  the  recital. 

As  the  tale  is  related  a  most  picturesque  scene 
comes  before  the  mind,  the  garrison  with  its  stack 
of  arms,  dusky  warriors  mingling  with  American 
soldiery,  glittering  sunshine  and  singing  birds,  tables 
spread  under  the  great  live  oaks,  joy  on  every 
countenance  —  the  end  of  the  Seven  Years'  War. 
Because  this  old  ante-bellum  slave  is  a  bright  link, 
forging  as  it  were,  those  olden  days  of  warfare  with 
the  present,  a  few  words  of  her  individuality  must 
interest. 

Martha  Jane,  for  so  she  was  christened  full  ninety- 
five  years  ago  when,  a  little  shining  black  pickaninny, 
her  birth  was  announced  to  the  mistress  of  the  old 
Carter  plantation,  is  the  true  type  of  the  old  time 
loyal,  quaintly  courteous  Bandanna  Mammy  of  ante 
bellum  days.  Leaving  Richmond  about  1839,  she 


42       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

was  brought  to  Florida  with  a  shipload  of  slaves. 
Since  that  time  her  life  has  been  a  rugged  and  an 
eventful  one  —  a  servant  for  the  wealthy,  nursing 
the  sick,  sold  again  and  again,  hired  out,  and,  since 
freedom,  working  for  her  daily  bread. 

This  white  haired  relic  of  Old  Virginia  is  worthy 
a  place  in  the  pages  of  history.  She  is  old,  decrepit 
and  poor,  the  muscles  of  her  once  powerful  arms 
are  shrunken  and  her  hands  gnarled  with  the  labor 
of  years,  but  she  has  a  memory  as  keen  as  when  al 
most  80  years  ago  she  watched  the  "  stars  fall  " 
from  the  upper  windows  of  the  Old  Swan  Hotel  in 
Richmond.  She  has  kept  pace  with  many  points  in 
history,  particularly  of  the  wars  of  the  country. 

As  the  old  dame  —  a  study  in  ebony  —  rocks  back 
and  forth  in  the  creaking  split-bottom  chair,  memory 
runs  back  to  the  imperial  days  of  Virginia  when  the 
cavalier  was  supreme,  and  she  the  pampered  nurse 
girl  of  the  little  mistress.  She  says,  "  Oh,  dem  was 
dream  days.  I  hab  nebber  seed  any  days  like  'em 
since.  De  mounfulest  day  I  ebber  seed  was  when 
dey  took  me  from  my  mistress,  for  the  sky  was  a 
drippin'  tears  and  de  wind  was  a  groanin'." 

"  No,  honey,  dey  ain't  stories  'bout  dem  Seminole 
war  days,  dey  is  de  Lord's  blessed  truf,  what  ole 
Marthy  see  wif  dese  same  ole  eyes. 

"  Oh,  dem  wuz  high  times!  I  reckelmember  dat 
Krismas  day  jest  like  hit  wuz  yisterday;  the  sun  wuz 
a  shinin'  an'  de  birds  a  singin'  (you  see,  de  mokin' 
birds  didn't  sing  while  dat  cruel  war  wuz  a  goin'  on) 
an'  ebbery  body  wuz  a  laughin'  an'  a  talkin'  an'  de 


MARTHA    JANE,    "BANDANNA    MAMMY  " 

who  cooked  the  Treaty   dinner  for  General  Worth  in    1842.     Now  living  ir 
Kissimmee. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      43 

white  ladies  wuz  a  coquettin'  wif  de  sojers  an'  dem 
Indians  wuz  as  thick  as  hops  an  a  laughin'  an'  a  jab- 
berin'  too. 

:i  When  Colonel  Worth  see  dem  long  tables  settin' 
under  the  big  live  oaks  an'  see  dem  beeves  an'  mut 
tons  an'  turkeys  an'  deer  we  cooked,  he  jest  natchelly 
laughed  an'  say,  '  Clar  ter  goodness,  what  kin'  o' 
Krismas  doin's  is  dis' ;  an'  how  dem  sojers  an'  In 
dians  did  eat. 

u  How  come  I  ter  cook  de  treaty  dinner? 

"  Well,  I  wuz  livin'  out  on  ole  Marse  Wattcr- 
son'  plantation,  'bout  four  miles  from  Fort  King, 
dats  to  Ocala,  now,  you  know,  an'  Jim,  dat  wuz 
Colonel  Worth's  servant,  he  ride  out  on  dat  big  white 
horse  o'  de  Colonel's  an'  say  *  Colonel  Worth  want 
Marthy  Jane  ter  cook  de  treaty  dinner;  '  so  me  an' 
Diana  Pyles  an'  Lucinda  Pyles  cook  dat  dinner. 

"  Oh,  Lordy,  what  scufflin'  roun'  an'  jumpin'  like 
chickens  wif  der  heads  off  as  we  do  dat  day. 

"  All  de  sojers'  guns  an'  de  Indians'  guns,  too, 
wuz  stacked  in  dat  garrison,  an'  when  de  night  come, 
dey  make  big  camp  fires  an'  de  white  folks  dance  an' 
de  Indians  wuz  a  dancin'  too,  wif  dem  ole  coutre 
(terrapin)  shells  a  strapped  'roun'  der  legs. 

"Tell  you  'bout  Colonel  Worth?  He  wuz  de 
gem'men  ob  all  dat  crowd;  he  wuz  de  nobles'  lookin' 
man  an'  so  kind  an'  easy;  de  United  States  nebber 
would  hab  conquered  dem  Seminoles  if  dey  had  not 
induced  Colonel  Worth  ter  come  down  an'  argufy 
wif  dem.  Him  an'  old  Captain  Holmes  wuz  de  mos' 
like  our  folks  ob  any  ob  dem  big  generals. 


44       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

"  Arter  dey  had  all  eat,  an'  eat  dem  fine  wituals 
we  cook,  den  dey  hab  de  speech  makin' ;  oh,  dat  wuz 
high  'stronomy  talk  1 

"  I  reckelmember  jest  like  hit  wuz  to-day,  me  an' 
Diana  Pyles  wuz  a  standin'  right  inside  de  garrison 
an'  dat  noble-lookin'  Colonel  Worth  wuz  talkin'  kind 
an'  persuadin'  like  ter  dem  savages  an'  axin'  dem  all 
ter  come  up  an'  sign  de  treaty. 

"  You  see  dat  treaty  wuz  foh  dem  ter  quit  fightin' 
an'  go  ter  Arkansas. 

"  All  dem  chiefs  walk  up  but  two.  Oh,  Lordy 
mercy  I  kin  jest  see  dat  Sam  Jones  yit  standin'  close 
'side  Colonel  Worth.  He  wuz  sut'n'ty  a  big  Indian 
an'  could  talk  English  good  as  we  alls  white  folks. 

"  He  jest  look  at  de  Colonel  pizen  like  an'  I  smell 
de  trouble  den,  an'  he  up  an'  say,  *  My  mother  died 
heah,  my  father  died  heah,  an'  be  demned  I  die  heah ; 
yo-ho-ee,  hee-ee !  ' 

"How  dat  Indian  could  gib  dat  war  whoop;  an' 
he  walk  right  ober  yonder  ter  dat  big  stack  ob  guns 
an'  take  his  rifle  an'  ebbery  Indian  ob  his  band  fol 
low'  'm  an'  dey  walk  out  ob  dat  garrison  as  easy  as 
a  cat  arter  a  mouse. 

"  Colonel  Worth  did  look  so  peaked,  but  twan't 
no  use,  foh  he  couldn't  stop  dese  chiefs;  he  hab  gib 
dem  the  promise  dat  if  dey  would  all  come  in  he 
would  treat  'em  all  right. 

"  Dem  wuz  cruel  days,"  and  old  Martha  Jane 
quivered  with  indignation  as  she  brought  her  fat  hand 
down  upon  her  knee.  "  But  hit  wasn't  de  Indians' 
fault.  No  man  what  hab  a  gun  is  gwine  ter  let 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      45 

somebody  steal  the  cattle  an'  horses,  an'  dat  jest  what 
de  white  people  do  ter  de  Seminoles. 

"  Lord  a  mercy,  I  hab  seed  Paynes'  Prairie  cov 
ered  wif  de  cattle  an'  horses  dat  'longed  ter  de  In 
dians,  an'  de  white  raspcallions  would  carry  'em  off 
a  hundred  at  a  time.  Umph !  I  heah  'em  brag  how 
dey  carry  off  de  Indians'  horses.  Ole  Thorpe  Rob 
erts  he  wuz  a  ole  fief.  He  would  say,  *  We  make 
many  a  good  haul  ob  dem  savages'  cattle,  ten  ob  us 
come  in  at  onct  an'  drive  off  a  thousan'  head.' 

"  Yes,  Mistis,  dat  ole  Seminole  war  make  a  heap 
o'  white  folks  rich  in  Florida. 

"  Oh,  Lord  hab  mercy  on  all  dem  souls.  Dey 
wuz  hard  times,  times  o'  misery,  chile,  but  de  Indians 
wuzn't  ter  blame.  God  make  'em  an'  dey  hab  ter 
hab  a  place  ter  stay,  jest  same  as  we  alls  white  folks. 

"  De  white  people  bring  all  dat  'struction  on  der 
own  heads  foh  dey  commence  dat  war.  I  see  hit  wif 
my  own  eyes;  I  see  'em  kill  de  Indians'  slaves.  You 
see  de  Seminoles  hab  slaves  jest  de  same  as  white 
folks,  an'  some  ob  der  niggers  wuz  as  fine-lookin' 
black  men  as  you  ebber  'spect  ter  see  in  Ole  Vir 
ginia. 

;'  When  de  Indians  would  come  'roun'  ter  esquire 
'bout  der  cattle  de  white  rapscallions  (an'  a  heap  o' 
dem  wuz  dem  low  down  nigger  traders  too)  dem 
white  men  would  up  an'  shoot  de  Indians. 

"  Lordy  chile,  when  I  gits  ter  ruminatin'  'bout  dem 
days  I  sees  de  longes'  line  o'  haunts  whats  obtained  in 
dis  world  o'  sin  an'  sorrow." 

I  laid  down  my  tablet  and  looked  up ;  the  old  worn- 


46       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

an's  lip  was  quivering  from  suppressed  emotion. 
Passing  over  the  tragic  she  began  again. 

"  No,  chile,  'xcusin'  ob  de  truf,  de  United  States 
nebber  whipped  de  Seminoles ;  she  whipped  dem  Brit 
ishers  when  George  Washington  wuz  de  captain,  an' 
de  Mexicans,  den  she  tuck  a  little  'xcursion  'cross  ter 
Cuba  an'  whipped  dem  Spaniards;  but  she  nebber 
whipped  the  Seminoles.  Umph;  where  wuz  de  In 
dians  when  de  sojers  wuz  all  shinin'  in  dem  new  uni 
forms  an'  der  ammunition  all  packed  up  ?  Dem  sav 
ages  wuz  all  gone,  hidin'  in  dem  hammocks  an5 
swamps  what  wuz  so  thick  wif  trees  an'  bushes  dat  a 
black  snake  could  skacely  wiggle  through. 

"  De  sojers  would  go  marchin'  'long  an'  way  up  in 
de  tops  ob  some  ob  dem  big  trees  some  ob  dem  sly  ole 
Indian  scouts  would  be  sittin'  wifout  any  clothes  on, 
a  watchin'  an'  a  laughin'  at  de  sojers." 

"  You  want  ter  heah  'bout  dat  battle  o'  Micanopy? 

"  De  Seminoles  didn't  hab  no  battles  like  dem  Brit 
ishers  in  George  Washington  times;  no  chile,  but  dey 
hab  scrummages  an'  kill  de  white  people  jest  like  dey 
wuz  black  birds."  and  the  old  negress,  seemingly 
oblivious  to  the  fact  that  cruel  time  has  bowed  her 
frame  and  dimmed  the  once  bright  eye,  lives  over 
again  the  story  of  those  days  so  long  ago,  when  she 
was  the  pampared  slave  of  the  old  aristocracy. 

"  How  come  I  ter  see  dat  big  fight,  I  b'longed  ter 
Marster  Mundane ;  de  Mundane  f ambly  wuz  power 
ful  rich  and  owned  the  big  hotel  where  the  officers 
wuz  stayin'. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      47 

"  Der  warn't  no  Indians  'roun'  der  jest  den,  an' 
ebbery  thing  wuz  peaceful  an'  quiet,  an'  I  heah  de 
sojers  a  jokin'  an'  sayin'  day  wuz  jest  a  spendin'  de 
winter  in  de  Sunny  South  an'  de  Governmen'  wuz 
payin'  de  grub  bills. 

"  I  reckelmember  jest  like  I  am  tellin'  you  ter  day, 
I  wuz  standin'  on  dat  big  piazza  'side  o'  Missus; 
you  know  I  wuz  riz  up  ter  be  'roun'  white  folks,  foh 
I  wuz  allus  so  peart  dat  my  ole  Missus  in  Virginia 
would  call  me  in  ter  de  parlor  ter  show  me  off  ter  de 
white  ladies. 

"  Well,  honey,  dis  mornin'  de  sojers  wuz  a  cleanin' 
der  guns  an'  laughin'  an'  dey  ax  Mistis,  '  How  many 
deer  you  want  foh  dinner?'  Den  anudder  likely 
young  sojer  would  say,  '  How  many  turkeys  you  want, 
Mistress  Mundane?  '  an'  den  dey  went  off  a  whistlin' 
an'  a  singin' ;  but  oh,  my  God,  what  lamentations  der 
wuz  dat  same  night. 

"  Twan't  long  will  I  heah,  bang  —  bang  —  bang, 
an'  I  says  ter  myself,  Marthy  Jane,  too  many  deer, 
too  many  wild  turkey,  sound  ter  me  like  Indian 
shootin';  'spect  dem  rapscallions  sneak  up  on  de  so 
jers,  an'  dis  black  chile  gwine  ter  see  foh  herself.  I 
jest  slipped  out  o'  de  house  an'  kachunk!  kachunk! 
I  went  down  that  big  lane  as  fas'  as  a  horse  can  trot 
till  I  come  ter  de  prairie  an'  den  I  clumb  in  ter  a  big 
oak  tree,  den  de  nex'  thing  I  do  I  wrap  dat  gray  moss 
'roun'  me  so  dem  debbils  couldn't  see  me. 

"  How  dem  Indians  did  shoot !  If  dat  sight  didn't 
beat  de  Ian' !  Zipp  —  zipp  —  bang  —  bang,  an' 
ebbery  time  dey  shoot  dey  yell  like  debbils,  yo-ho-e- 


48       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

hee-eee  bang,  den  fall  on  de  groun'  an'  load  dat  mus 
ket,  stanj  up  an'  shoot  again;  de  sojers  a  droppin' 
ebbery  time  a  Indian  shoot. 

"  De  sojers  wuz  so  skeered  dey  couldn't  load  der 
guns  when  de  Indians  would  gib  dat  Satan  screech. 

"  An'  den  de  poor  sojers  jest  dropped  guns  an'  run 
in  ter  de  lake  an'  de  woods  an'  dem  savages  would  go 
an'  take  de  guns  an'  de  ammunition  offen  de  dead 
bodies  an'  den  go  runnin'  like  a  deer. 

"  Lord  a  mercy,  hit  seems  ter  me  I  heah  de  wind 
blowin'  ghosts  an'  de  sperits  ob  de  brave  gem'men 
what  wuz  killed  on  dat  field  ebbery  time  I  talks  'bout 
dat  day. 

1  Yes,  Mistis,  dat  scrummage  wuz  called  de  battle 
ob  Payne's  Prairie.  When  de  Colonel  found  out  de 
Indians  killed  so  many  ob  de  sojers,  he  tore  roun'  like 
a  wild  bear  an1  clar  'foh  de  Almighty  dat  he  wuz 
gwine  ter  sen'  off  an*  fetch  de  whole  United  States 
troops  ter  come  down  an'  kill  ebbery  Indian  in  Flor 
ida. 

"  But  what  good  wuz  all  dat  big  talk;  dey  hab  two 
regimen's  stayin'  der  den,  and  'foh  dey  could  git  outen 
de  garrison  de  sly  ole  Indians  wuz  all  gone  an'  didn't 
leave  a  track  behin'  dem,  nuther. 

"  Dem  wuz  days  ob  'struction,  ter  be  shure !  but 
dey  mought  ha'  knowed  dat  war  wuz  a  comin',  kase 
Daddy  Charles  see  dem  divisions  in  Virginia  an'  tell 
de  white  people  great  'struction  ob  war  wuz  a  comin', 
he  tell  dem  dat  hit  gwine  ter  wrestle  wif  a  foreign 
country,  an'  den  'sides  de  divisions,  de  wild  pigeons 
come  an'  dey  wuz  so  thick  you  couldn't  see  de  trees 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       49 

and  de  slaves  kill  'em  wif  der  hoe  handles  in  de  corn 
field. 

'  Yes,  dat  big  Seminole  war  did  come,"  said 
Martha  Jane  triumphantly,  "  jest  like  dat  ole  saint 
o'  black  man  tole  de  people. 

"  I  ain't  nebber  seed  no  lonesomer  place  like  dat 
Payne's  Prairie  from  dat  day  ter  dis  arter  dey  hab 
dat  skirmishin'. 

"  I  see  de  folks  lyin'  on  de  grass  an'  de  tall  grass 
blowin'  backards  and  forrerds,  but  dem  sojers  nebber 
move.  Den  de  men  come  an'  carry  'em  ter  de  hos 
pital.  I  shrouded  so  many  dat  night  dat  I  got  har 
dened  jest  like  a  dog  wifout  a  soul. 

"  Colonel  Whisler,  he  wuz  a  Yankee  man,  he  sayd, 
1  Marthy  Jane,  you  orter  hab  been  a  man,  you  is  so 
nervy.'  Dat  why  I  can't  eat  hominy  ter  dis  day,  I 
make  so  many  poultices  endurin'  ob  de  war  ter  draw 
out  de  bullets;  dey  didn't  hab  dem  pizen  balls  o' 
Satan  like  dey  do  in  dese  regenerate  days  since  sur 
render. 

"  Arter  dem  scanlous  time,  Colonel  Worth  an* 
Colonel  Whisler  'cided  dat  dey  mus'  go  ter  Fort 
Myers  to  see  how  dem  scrummagers  wuz  goin'  on 
down  dat  way. 

"  De  headquarter  men  'low  dey  mighty  nigh  per- 
ish'd  foh  sumptin'  good  ter  eat  an'  tell  ole  Mistis 
dey  'bliged  ter  hab  me  go  'long  ter  do  de  cookin'. 
Colonel  Whisler  wuz  one  ob  dese  kind  o'  captains 
what  want  his  coffee  hot  an'  all  de  victuals  on  de 
jump. 

"  Dem  wuz  high  camp-meetin'  times  all  de  way. 


50       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

In  dem  days  de  game  wuz  powerful  plentiful,  an' 
dem  victuals  I  cooked  wuz  a  plum  sight;  deer,  wild 
turkey  an'  ducks  wuz  a  flyin'  wherebber  der  wuz  a 
pond  o'  water.  Um-um-m,  didn't  I  cook  'em  de  fine 
victuals. 

"  Colonel  Worth  'cided  dey  couldn't  kill  de  Indians 
so  he  say  he  would  jest  campaign  along  an'  destroy 
all  der  crops  an'  burn  der  houses ;  he  'lowed  dat  wuz 
better  dan  shootin'  dem ;  an'  oh  Lordy,  didn't  we  eat 
de  corn  an'  watermelons  dem  Indians  raise. 

'  We  march  an'  we  stop,  an'  we  march  an'  we 
stop,  till  hit  wuz  de  Lord's  blessin'  dat  we  hab  so 
many  horses  an'  wagons. 

"  Oh,  dem  long  wagon  trains,  wif  sojers  betwixt, 
sojers  in  front  an5  sojers  behind. 

41  You  see,  de  officers  hab  der  wives  along  an'  some 
mighty  fine  white  ladies  what  wuz  a  visitin'  at  dc 
garrison.  Dem  wuz  shure  camp-meetin'  days. 

"  Ole  Billy  Daniels  an'  old  man  Stratford,  dey  wuz 
along  too;  dey  wuz  ole  men  den.  I  'spect  dey  both 
dead  afoh  now." 

"  I  wuzn't  anyways  skeery,  but  we  sut'n'ty  wuz  a 
long  way  from  ole  Mistress,  mighty  nigh  two  hun 
dred  miles. 

u  Arter  all  dat  camp-meetin'  frolickin'  Colonel 
Worth  'cided  he  would  come  back  ter  Fort  King  an' 
leave  de  sojers  ter  keep  on  destroyin'  at  Fort  Myers. 

"  Billy  Daniels  wuz  obliged  to  'scort  us  back,  kase 
he  is  de  man  what  drawed  de  map  of  Florida  an'  put 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       51 

all  de  lakes  an1  islands  in  foh  Colonel  Worth.  He 
couldn't  read,  nuther  write,  but  he  could  'cite  de 
Seminole  language  like  he  hab  book  learnin' ;  he  wuz 
de  interpreter  foh  Colonel  Worth  too. 

"  Hit  sut'n'ty  wuz  scrumagen'  times  arter  me  an* 
Diana  Pyles  cooked  dat  treaty  dinner  foh  Colonel 
Worth. 

"  Mos'  generally  de  troops  went  a  troopin'  north, 
but  dey  lef  some  ob  de  sassiest  white  men  I  ebber 
see  top  o'  earth  ter  guard  de  State;  low  down  white 
rapscallions. 

*  You  see,  hit  wuz  dis  away,  terrectly  dey  fin'  out 
de  Indians  wuz  all  gone  south  dey  make  up  dat  dey 
bes'  skeer  our  people  so  de  United  States  would  keep 
payin'  dem  government  money. 

"  No,  Mistis,  hit  wuzn't  de  Indians  dat  did  de 
skirmishin,'  hit  wuz  de  white  rapscallions  what  wuz 
hankerin'  foh  dem  government  rations. 

"  Our  people  wuz  rich  den  wif  de  big  sugar  planta 
tions  an'  cotton  fields  an'  a  heap  o'  slaves  an'  cattle 
an'  horses ;  our  folks  didn't  want  no  war,  but  hit  wuz 
de  poor  white  people  dat  rousted  'roun'  at  night  an' 
kill  de  cattle  an'  put  moccasins  on  der  ole  foots,  what 
look  as  rough  as  alligators'  hides,  den  dey  go  an' 
make  tracks  all  roun'  like  a  hundred  Indians  been  a 
spyin'.  Hit  sholy  did  skeer  our  people,  but  twan't 
de  Seminoles,  kase  de  Indian  is  a  debbil,  but  he  ain't 
gwine  ter  stay  'roun'  Fort  King  when  he  done  prom 
ise  Colonel  Worth  he  gwine  go  'way. 

"  Dem  white  men  keep  up  dat  debbilment  till  de 


52       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

United  States  find  out  'bout  hit,  an'  she  say  if  dey 
any  moh  o'  dat  meanness  foun'  out  dat  dey  will 
hang  ebbery  rapscallion  what  prowlin'  Voun*  we  alls 
white  folks  houses." 


PART  II 

The  Florida  Seminoles  of  To-day 


PART  SECOND 

THE  PRESENT  CONDITION  AND  ATTITUDE  OF  THE 
SEMINOLES 

TO-DAY  the  Seminoles  of  Florida  are  a  beggared 
and  spectral  type  of  a  once  powerful  race.  And  in 
their  swamp  homes  we  find  these  brown-skinned  peo 
ple,  living  in  the  primeval  customs  of  their  fathers, 
little  changed  from  the  Indians  De  Soto  found  in  the 
"  Land  of  Flowers,"  or  Columbus  upon  the  little 
island  upon  which  he  landed  the  weary  and  anxious 
cargo  of  the  frail  Pinta,  and  of  whom  he  wrote  to  his 
Queen,  "  Because  they  showed  much  kindliness  for 
us,  and  because  I  know  they  would  be  more  easily 
made  Christians  through  love  than  fear,  I  gave  to 
them  some  glass  beads  for  their  necks,  some  red  caps 
with  which  they  were  so  delighted  and  entirely  ours, 
it  was  a  marvel  to  see." 

Thus  we  have  dispossessed  the  original  owners  of 
as  goodly  a  land  as  the  sun  ever  shone  upon,  a  land 
that  cost  us  nothing  but  the  beads  of  the  early  adven 
turers  and  the  bullets  of  their  successors,  a  race, 
savages  'tis  true,  but  heroes  many  of  them,  and  proud 
and  courtly  as  their  conquerors. 

The  American  people  expend  thousands  of  dollars 
annually  in  scientific  research  for  antiquities  and 
many  more  thousands  are  spent  by  the  antiquarian 

53 


54       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

for  the  preservation  of  the  relics  and  ancient  records. 
The  North  American  Indian  is  fast  vanishing  from 
the  continent.  Are  not  the  Seminoles  of  Florida, 
the  descendants  of  the  old  monarchs,  this  race  around 
which  shadowy  romance  hovers,  as  worthy  of  preser 
vation  as  the  inanimate  treasures  of  ancient  Egypt? 
Are  there  no  Rameses  in  American  history?  In  the 
old  turbaned  tribe  of  Florida,  we  have  a  remnant  of 
the  most  picturesque,  deserving  and  moral  of  all  the 
Aborigines  of  America,  and  they  belong  to  a  type 
that  is  everywhere  else  extinct.  Are  they  not  worth 
preserving  and  protecting  to  a  point  worthy  the 
proud  and  historic  name  of  Seminole? 

Secure  in  the  mysterious  marshes,  these  Indians 
present  an  eloquent  picture  of  a  helpless  wandering 
tribe. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  a  few  bands  of  the  Indians 
refused  to  submit  to  banishment  and,  concealing 
themselves  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  Everglades,  made 
their  removal  an  impossibility.  This  part  of  the 
tribe,  according  to  their  traditions,  belonged  orig 
inally  to  the  Aztec  race  and  for  this  reason  they 
claim  a  preeminence  over  all  the  tribes  of  Aborigines 
of  America. 

Though  defeated  in  war,  they  never  submitted  to 
the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and  hence  re 
gard  themselves  as  more  valiant  in  defense,  more  de 
termined  in  purpose  than  that  part  of  the  tribe  which 
succumbed  to  emigration  to  the  Indian  Territory; 
in  fact,  the  old  chieftains  say  of  the  Indians  who  emi 
grated,  "  Arkansas  Indians,  cowards  and  traitors." 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      55 

So  to-day  the  Seminoles  of  Florida  occupy  a  unique 
position  with  respect  to  the  United  States  Govern 
ment,  as,  being  unconquered  and  unsubdued,  having 
no  legal  existence  nor  allegiance  to  our  Nation;  in 
short,  so  far  as  the  United  States  is  concerned  offi 
cially,  there  are  no  Indians  in  Florida. 

The  tribe  to-day  numbers  about  600  souls,  living 
at  peace  with  all  mankind,  independent,  but  suspici 
ous  of  Washington  officials,  only  asking  to  be  let 
alone,  a  homeless  people  in  a  free  land,  ever  push 
ing  on  before  the  insatiable  cupidity  of  the  white  man. 

An  inexorable  decree  has  forced  the  Florida  In 
dian  into  the  most  desolate  lands  of  Florida.  Where 
they  once  trod  as  masters  they  now  fear  to  place  foot. 
We  cannot  be  unmoved  by  the  thought  that  here  are 
the  tattered  and  poverty  stricken  handfuls  of  a  tribe 
of  warriors  that  held  at  bay  a  strong  government  for 
half  a  century,  a  tribe  that  counted  their  cattle, 
their  lands  and  their  slaves  in  magnificent  propor 
tions.  At  the  present  time,  to  avoid  complications 
with  the  South  Florida  cattle  herders  none  of  the  race 
are  permitted  to  own  cattle.  There  is  a  certain 
pathos  in  the  Indian's  story  of  his  relation  to  the 
white  race,  which  arrests  our  attention  and  compels 
sympathy.  But,  it  is  destiny!  What  of  the  future? 
Touch  any  point  in  the  red  man's  history,  where  you 
will,  or  how  you  will,  and  the  helpless  savage  always 
gets  the  worst  of  it. 

There  is  no  use  in  muck-raking  about  it.  We  are 
leisurely  taking  our  time  at  finishing  the  extermina 
tion  of  the  original  American.  Whether  or  not  the 


56       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

future  historian  chronicles  this  as  a  century  of  dis 
honor,  the  fac  remains  that,  since  he  could  not  with 
stand  the  white  faces,  the  Indian  will  go  —  pass  out 
of  existence. 

We  judge  the  Indian  too  harshly.  It  is  hard  to 
give  up  old  traditions,  especially  if  the  adherence  to 
them  means  a  life  of  ease.  We  are  all  in  the  pursuit 
of  that  which  will  make  us  happy. 

The  story  is  the  old  one  of  merciless  extinction  of 
the  lower  race  before  the  higher.  It  is  a  story  of 
the  "  survival  of  the  fittest."  The  Florida  Indian 
can  go  no  further.  An  old  anecdote  is  brought  to 
light  which  illustrates  the  Indian's  own  view  of  the 
case.  The  famous  Seneca  chief,  Red  Jacket,  once 
met  a  government  agent,  and  after  pleasant  greetings 
they  both  sat  down  on  a  log,  when  Red  Jacket  asked 
the  agent  to  •"  move  along."  The  agent  did  so  and 
the  chief  followed.  This  was  done  several  times, 
the  agent  humoring  the  whim  of  the  old  chief,  until 
he  had  reached  the  end  of  the  log,  when  the  same  re 
quest,  "  move  along "  was  repeated.  '*  Why, 
man,"  angrily  replied  the  agent,  "  I  can't  move  along 
further  without  getting  off  the  log  into  the  mud." 
"Ugh!  Just  so  white  man  want  Indian  to  move 
along  —  move  along ;  can't  go  no  further,  yet  he  say 
move  along."  And  so  with  the  Seminole  to-day. 
The  clearings  they  have  made  in  the  forests  and  the 
only  homes  they  have  ever  known  have  been  bought 
from  the  State  by  speculators  and  they  are  compelled 
to  "  move  along."  The  history  of  the  western  In 
dian  as  he  sells  or  surrenders  the  heart  of  his  great 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      57 

reservation  proves  that  the  white  man  will  have  his 
wav.     The  broken  treaties  of  the  past  the  Seminole 


way.  The  broken  treaties  of  the  past  the  Seminole 
has  not  forgotten.  The  old  chiefs  are  as  proud  as 
the  most  imperious  king.  They  regard  these  lands 
as  their  own,  and  cannot  understand  the  Govern 
ment's  claim.  They  say  "  What  right  has  the  big 
white  chief  at  Washington  to  give  to  us  what  is  al 
ready  ours  —  the  lands  of  our  fathers?  "  The  white 
man  who  receives  any  confidence  from  the  Florida 
Indian  must  indeed  possess  great  magnetism,  for  the 
Seminole  is  suspicious  of  every  overture  and  will  mis 
lead  his  questioner  on  all  occasions.  And  while  the 
white  man  is  studying  "  poor  Lo,"  "  poor  Lo  "  is 
similarly  engaged  in  studying  him,  and  continually 
revolving  in  his  suspicious  mind,  "  what  can  pale  face 
want  from  the  Indian  anyway?  " 

The  chiefs  have  taught  the  young  braves  all  about 
the  outrages  perpetrated  upon  their  tribe  by  unscru 
pulous  agents  during  the  wars ;  and  while  the  Indians 
themselves  in  many  cases  practiced  cruelty,  it  was 
always  in  retaliation  for  some  grevious  wrong  of 
anterior  date.  History  records  case  after  case  of 
robberies  and  enormities  committed  on  the  Seminoles 
previous  to  the  war  and  during  its  progress.  Mican- 
opy  requested  a  lawyer  to  draw  a  form  of  writing 
for  him  which  soon  after  proved  to  be  a  conveyance 
of  a  valuable  tract  of  land!  Afterwards  the  war- 
whoop  and  the  deadly  hand  of  Micanopy  was  heard 
and  felt  among  the  swamps  and  prairies.  Micanopy 
was  one  of  the  most  powerful,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
wealthiest  Seminole  chieftains.  His  estate,  a  mile 


58       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

square,  he  ceded  to  the  United  States.  Of  the  dis 
position  of  his  slaves  —  he  had  eighty  —  nothing 
is  said. 

In  connection  with  the  portrait  of  Micanopy  as 
used  in  this  volume,  this  bit  of  almost  forgotten  his 
tory  is  worth  mention.  When  the  famous  Indian 
portrait  painter,  Catlin,  was  commissioned  by  the 
War  Department  to  paint  the  most  prominent  chiefs 
then  in  captivity  at  Fort  Moultrie,  Micanopy,  as 
chief  of  the  Nation,  was  first  approached,  but  posi 
tively  refused  to  be  painted.  After  much  persua 
sion,  he  at  last  consented,  saying,  "  If  you  make  a 
fair  likeness  of  my  legs,"  which  he  had  very  taste 
fully  dressed  in  a  handsome  pair  of  red  leggins, 
"  you  may  paint  Micanopy  for  the  Great  Father," 
"  upon  which,  I  at  once  began,"  says  Catlin,  "  as  he 
sat  cross  legged,  by  painting  them  upon  the  lower 
part  of  the  canvas,  leaving  room  for  the  body  and 
head  above." 

When  the  chief  saw  every  line  and  curve  brought 
out  on  the  canvas  he  smiled  his  approval,  and  the 
work  proceeded,  to  the  delight  of  both  artist  and 
subject. 

In  the  mutual  relations  between  the  whites  and  the 
Indians  it  requires  no  skilled  advocate  to  show  on 
which  side  must  lie  the  wrongs  unrepaired  and  una 
venged.  Without  doubt  the  Indian  has  always  been 
the  victim.  One  thing  is  certain,  the  Indian  chiefs, 
when  fairly  dealt  with,  have  always  evinced  an  ear 
nest  desire  to  make  just  terms.  Ever  since  the  Cau 
casian  landed  on  the  shores  of  America,  a  white  man 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       59 

with  a  gun  has  been  watching  the  Indian.  Four  cen 
turies  have  gone  and  with  them  a  record  of  broken 
treaties  and  violated  pledges.  The  records  of  the 
Indian  Bureau  support  the  statement  that,  before  the 
first  half  of  the  present  century  had  passed,  we  had 
broken  seven  solemn  treaties  with  the  Creeks,  eleven 
with  the  Cherokees;  the  Chickasaws  and  Choctaws 
suffered  too,  saying  nothing  of  smaller  tribes.  His 
tory  reveals  how  well  the  Delawares  fought  for  us  in 
the  Revolutionary  War.  They  were  brave  "  allies," 
fighting  out  of  loyalty  to  the  "  Alliance,"  and  inspired 
by  the  promised  reward,  viz. :  '  The  territorial 
right  to  a  State  as  large  as  Pennsylvania  and  a  right 
to  representation  in  our  Congress."  But  where  are 
the  Delawares  to-day?  One  remove  after  another 
was  made  until  we  find  only  a  remnant  existing  — 
some  with  the  Cherokees,  and  a  few  with  the  Wichita 
agency. 

A  great  deal  has  been  written  about  the  Florida 
Indian  which  is  not  in  accordance  with  facts.  There 
are  many  obstacles  in  the  way  of  an  intimate  ac 
quaintance  with  their  customs  and  home  life.  Living 
as  they  do  in  the  almost  inaccessible  morasses,  their 
contact  with  civilization  has  been  regulated  by  their 
own  volition.  Visitors,  traders  and  government 
agents  have  been  denied  their  confidence,  and  it  is 
only  on  their  visits  to  settlements  for  the  purpose  of 
trading  that  they  meet  the  white  man.  At  such  times 
the  Seminole  is  on  the  alert,  ever  suspicious,  and  to 
the  numerous  interrogations  applied  to  him  by  the 
inquisitive  stranger,  his  answer  is  an  indifferent 


60       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

u  Me  don't  know."  When  questions  become  of  a 
personal  character,  touching  upon  subjects  sacred  to  a 
Semiriole,  he  quietly  walks  away,  leaving  his  ques 
tioner  wondering. 

The  Seminoles  live  to  themselves,  shun  all  intimacy 
with  the  Caucasian,  and  their  personal  appearance  is 
therefore  almost  unknown  to  Americans.  The 
greater  part  of  the  tribe  seldom,  if  ever,  leave  their 
marshy  homes.  To  reach  their  camps  uninhabitable 
wilds  must  be  traversed  and  sometimes  miles  of  mud 
and  water  waded,  then  perhaps  only  to  find  the 
camp  deserted.  For,  while  the  Seminole  has  reg 
ular  settlements,  at  various  times  during  the  year  the 
entire  camp  will  assemble  at  some  point  where  game 
is  abundant  and  a  "  big  hunt  "  will  occupy  a  few 
weeks.  Again  syrup  boiling  will  be  the  festival  all 
will  join  in;  at  another  time  a  large  quantity  of 
koonti  (wild  cassava)  will  be  made  into  flour.  At 
these  gatherings  the  tribe  or  families  occupy  tem 
porary  dwellings  called  lodges. 

The  innate  dislike  of  the  Seminole  toward 
strangers  is  his  hardest  prejudice  to  overcome;  yet  he 
is  hospitable  when  he  convinces  himself  that  the  vis 
itor  is  no  Government  agent,  nor  come  for  any  mer 
cenary  motive.  The  person  who  is  fortunate  enough 
to  reach  their  hunting  grounds,  secure  their  confi 
dence,  observe  their  weird  home  life,  and  their 
childish  untutored  ways,  meets  with  an  attractive 
spectacle  of  romance  and  may  study  these  aborigines 
in  their  primeval  customs.  For  to-day,  with  the 
exception  of  the  chiefs  and  a  few  of  the  adventur- 


s       O 
• 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      61 

some  warriors,  they  know  nothing  of  the  innovations 
of  the  last  half  century.  So  strong  are  they  in  their 
resolution  to  hold  no  intercourse  with  our  nation,  that 
neither  bribery  nor  cajolery  will  have  any  effect  upon 
them.  A  few  years  ago  an  effort  was  made  by  the 
authorities  of  the  Sub-Tropical  Exposition  at  Jack 
sonville,  Florida,  to  secure  a  few  of  the  Seminole 
braves  for  exhibition.  After  many  proffered  bribes, 
the  young  warriors  with  the  adventurous  spirit  of 
youth  consented  to  go  to  the  "  big  city.'7  A  council 
was  held  and  the  chiefs  said  "  halwuk  (it  is  bad)  ; 
if  you  go  you  never  come  back."  The  council  of  the 
chiefs  is  always  respected  and  the  young  braves  re 
mained  with  their  fathers. 

The  life  of  the  Seminole  has  been  without  any  aid 
or  instruction  from  the  white  man.  He  has  adopted 
a  few  of  the  implements,  weapons  and  utensils  of 
civilization;  but  in  no  other  way  has  he  imitated  his 
pale-faced  brother.  In  the  natural  course  of  evolu 
tion  he  has  made  some  progress;  he  has  not  de- 
generated. 

Government  reports  show  an  annual  appropriation 
of  almost  $7,000,000  for  the  Indian  service;  yet  the 
Florida  Indian  has  not  received  any  part  of  it  and 
without  it  he  has  shown  a  prosperous  condition. 
The  Smithsonian  report,  in  comparing  this  interest 
ing  people  with  the  native  white  settlers,  says  "  that 
success  in  agriculture  and  domestic  industries  is  not 
to  be  attributed  wholly  to  the  favorable  character  of 
the  climate  and  soil;  for,  surrounded  by  the  same 
conditions,  many  white  men  are  lazy  and  improvi- 


62       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

dent,  while  the  Seminoles  are  industrious  and  frugal." 
President  Cleveland  in  his  message  for  1895  Per~ 
tinently  says,  "  In  these  days,  when  white  agricultur 
ists  and  stock  raisers  of  experience  and  intelligence 
find  their  lot  a  hard  one,  we  ought  not  to  expect  In 
dians  to  support  themselves  on  lands  usually  allotted 
to  them. 

Years  later,  while  the  late  lamented  ex-President 
was  fishing  in  New  River  at  the  edge  of  the  Ever 
glades,  he  said,  "  This  country  was  made  for  the 
Seminoles  and  they  should  be  permitted  to  live  here 
undisturbed  forever." 

Yet  in  Florida,  we  find  the  red  race  not  only  self- 
sustaining,  but  refusing  any  aid  from  our  Govern 
ment.  Twenty  years  ago  the  Government  appro 
priated  $6,000,  "  to  enable  the  Seminoles  of  Florida 
to  obtain  homesteads  upon  the  public  lands,  and  to 
establish  themselves  thereon."  A  few  of  the  Indians 
consented  to  accept;  but  the  agent,  on  investigation, 
found  that  the  lands  which  the  Indians  desired  had 
passed  into  State  or  Improvement  Companies.  To 
day  the  Seminole  is  embittered;  and,  having  been 
driven  from  one  reservation  to  another,  he  refuses  to 
exchange  "  Indian's  good  lands  for  white  man's  bad 
lands,"  and  in  the  bitterness  of  his  conquered  spirit, 
takes  his  dusky  tribe  to  the  dark  shadows  of  the  cy 
press  swamps,  where  no  pale-faced  Government  offi 
cer  dare  disturb  him.  Again  Congress  tacked  an 
item  to  the  appropriation  act,  giving  $7,000  "  for  the 
support  of  the  Seminoles  of  Florida,  for  the  erection 
and  furnishing  of  a  school  for  teachers  and  the  fur- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       63 

nishing  of  seeds  and  implements  for  agricultural  pur 
poses."  In  the  winter  of  1889,  an  agent  inspired 
with  confidence  in  himself,  and  with  the  hope  of 
manipulating  a  $12,000  appropriation,  came  to 
Florida  by  appointment  from  Washington  to  renew 
the  effort  "  to  find  suitable  lands  upon  which  to  settle 
the  Indians,  and  to  furnish  the  seat  of  an  educational 
establishment."  Securing  an  interpreter  the  agent 
visited  the  Indian  camp.  A  council  of  chiefs  lis 
tened  quietly  to  his  overtures,  but  with  the  same 
proud  spirit  of  Osceola's  day,  they  refused  firmly  to 
accept  any  aid  from  a  Government  which  they  regard 
as  having  stolen  from  them  the  lands  of  their  fathers. 
As  the  agent  dwelt  on  the  presents  the  red  men  of 
Florida  should  receive  from  the  big  white  chief, 
Tiger  Tail,  a  worthy  descendant  of  the  invulnerable 
Tustenuggee,  replied,  "  You  came  from  Great  Chief? 
You  say  that  Great  Chief  give  Indian  plow,  wagon, 
hoe?"  Then  pointing  in  the  direction  of  a  small 
settlement  of  shiftless  whites,  he  added,  "  He  poor 
man,  give  'em  him.  Indian  no  want  'em."  Deliv 
ering  his  speech  with  the  spirit  of  an  old  Norse  King, 
the  chief  sfrode  majestically  away,  leaving  the  agent 
no  nearer  the  fulfillment  of  his  trust. 

An  Indian  Agency  was  established,  however,  in 
Florida  in  1892,  located  east  of  Fort  Myers,  and 
about  thirty-five  miles  from  the  nearest  Seminole 
camp.  It  was  supported  by  a  yearly  appropriation 
of  $6,000,  the  appropriation  act  reading,  "  For  the 
support,  civilization  and  instruction  of  the  Seminole 
Indians  in  Florida  $6,000,  one-half  of  which  sum 


64       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

may  be  expended  at  the  discretion  of  the  Secretary 
of  Interior  in  procuring  permanent  homes  for  said 
Indians." 

The  Government  built  a  saw  mill,  and  attempted 
a  school,  but  the  Indians,  according  to  the  statement 
of  Col.  C.  C.  Duncan,  U.  S.  Indian  Inspector  at 
that  time,  refused  to  send  their  children  to  the  school 
or  to  work  at  the  saw  mill.  Many  white  traders  who 
purchase  hides,  plumes  and  furs  from  the  Indians, 
tell  them  that  the  establishment  of  an  agency  is  for 
the  purpose  of  rounding  them  up  and  sending  them 
west.  These  Indians  have  been  cheated  and  baffled 
so  often  by  knaves,  who  go  among  them  for  that  pur 
pose,  that  they  imagine  all  whites  to  be  of  the  same 
character,  and  cannot  tell  whether  a  "  talk  "  comes 
from  their  great  white  father  at  Washington,  or 
whether  some  imposter  be  imposing  upon  them  for 
his  own  gains ;  hence,  the  Seminole  never  removed  his 
cloak  of  suspicion.  Little  progress  was  made  and 
the  work  of  the  agency  as  a  government  institution 
was  abandoned. 

Once  or  twice  it  has  been  tried  to  locate  the  Semi- 
holes,  but  when  the  chiefs  examined  the  land,  they 
found  it  "  ho-lo-wa-gus  "  (no  good)  and  they  re 
fused  the  offer. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       65 


NATIONAL  INDIAN  ASSOCIATION 

ITS  WORK  AND  ITS  RESULTS 

WHEN  the  National  Indian  Association  first  or 
ganized,  like  many  innovations  in  humanitarian  work, 
it  met  with  rebuffs  and  criticisms,  and  not  until  after 
five  years  of  petitioning  to  Congress,  newspaper 
recognition  and  the  circulation  of  leaflets,  did  the 
splendid  body  receive  legal  recognition  and  protec 
tion  for  the  United  States  Indians.  With  this  much 
accomplished,  the  work  became  easier  and  plans  to 
evangelize  the  Indians  of  the  United  States  were  in 
stituted. 

It  became  the  duty  of  the  Association  to  gather 
money  for  the  work,  establish  stations,  one  by  one, 
finance  the  expense  of  building  mission  cottages  and 
chapels,  and  then  when  established,  give  the  station, 
with  all  its  property,  to  whichever  of  the  denomina 
tional  boards  should  ask  for  it. 

The  work  has  been  one  of  the  noblest  of  pioneer 
mission  labor,  for  its  activities  are  directed  to  Amer 
ica's  original  owners,  whose  God-given  inheritance 
should  never  be  questioned  by  any  patriot,  whether 
he  be  Christian  or  moralist. 

In  1891,  this  organization  entered  Florida  and  the 
Seminole  Indians  received  recognition  and  the  first 
ray  of  Christian  light  pierced  the  dark  camps  of  the 
Everglade  Indians. 

While  the  missionary  in  charge  found  the  work 


66       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

difficult  and  results  were  not  flattering,  still,  the  seeds 
were  sown  that  have  brought  later  and  better  results, 
and  in  1893  the  Mission  was  transferred  to  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  the  South  Florida  Diocese. 

During  the  period  of  the  National  Organization's 
stay  in  Florida,  Congressional  agitation  of  the  sub 
ject  of  Seminole  lands  was  aired  by  deeply  interested 
friends  and  pauseless  workers,  and  resulted  in  the 
voting  of  800,000  acres  of  land  by  the  Florida  Legis 
lature  as  a  home  for  the  Seminoles,  a  gift  needing  ac 
tion  on  the  part  of  Congress  to  make  it  a  sure  and 
permanent  home  for  this  long-neglected  people.  But 
this  action  alas !  was  never  taken.1 

In  giving  the  Florida  Station  over  to  the  Episcopal 
Church,  the  National  Indian  Association  made  no 
mistake,  for  through  the  untiring  efforts  of  the  Rt. 
Rev.  William  Crane  Gray  of  the  South  Florida  dio 
cese,  the  mission  has  each  year  been  getting  better 
results.  The  Station  has  been  named  Im-mo-ka-lee 
(home),  and  is  situated  about  thirty-five  miles  from 
Fort  Myers.  Forty  miles  farther  is  a  hospital,  called 
Glade  Cross;  here  an  immense  white  cross  has  been 
erected  at  the  entrance  to  the  glades. 

The  present  arrangement,  under  the  charge  of  the 
estimable  Rev.  Dr.  Godden,  seems  to  be  solving 

1  Since  the  above  writing,  the  Department  of  the  Interior  has 
investigated  the  status  of  the  swamp  land  and  the  Government 
has  guaranteed  against  purchase  23,000  acres  of  land  to  be  held 
in  trust  for  the  Indians.  Only  a  small  part  of  it  is  arable,  but 
when  all  else  is  wrested  from  these  Indians,  they  may  retire  in 
safety  to  this  land. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       67 

the  mission  question  better  than  any  former  plan. 
The  mission  owns  a  store  where  the  Indians  may 
buy  or  sell;  the  missionary  in  charge  may  meet  and 
converse  personally  with  the  Indians;  he  wins  their 
friendship  and  is  able  by  degrees  to  instill  religious 
thoughts  into  them.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Godden  is  work 
ing  along  industrial  lines,  and  says,  u  We  must  fit  * 
these  Seminoles  by  education  and  Christianity  to  meet 
the  coming  conditions,  and  teach  them  to  become  self- 
supporting  by  industrial  pursuits  and  now  is  the  time 
to  do  it." 

The  work  proposed  is  to  erect  suitable  houses  for 
the  residence  of  the  missionary  and  his  family  with 
sufficient  room  to  entertain  visiting  Indians  when  in 
over  night  and  a  barrack  or  rest  room  for  laborers 
employed  in  clearing  land  and  working  crops. 

Writing  in  1909  of  the  work  and  Mission,  Dr. 
Gray  says : 

To  Bishops,  Clergy  and  Laity  of 
The  American  Church,  Greeting: 

I  desire  to  commend  most  heartily  my  well-beloved  in  the 
Lord,  Rev.  Irenaeus  Trout,  Missionary  to  the  Seminole 
Indians  in  Southern  Florida.  I  believe  that  God  has  in  a 
marvelous  way  designated  him  as  the  very  man  to  go  for 
ward  with  the  work  in  which  he  has  already  been  signally 
blessed,  viz :  that  of  leading  the  Seminoles  into  the  Kingdom 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  are  now  at  the  very  crisis 
of  opportunity. 

Hear  him  and  help  him.  Here  is  a  cry,  not  from  Europe, 
Asia  or  Africa,  but  from  the  Everglades,  in  your  own 
Florida:  "Come  and  help  us!"  A  thousand  prayers  ac 
company  him  from  this  Missionary  District. 


68       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

God  gives  you  the  privilege  of  helping  this  poor  Seminole 
remnant  into  the  kingdom. 

Faithfully, 

For  Christ  and  the  Church, 
(Seal)  WM.  CRANE  GRAY, 

Bishop  of  Southern  Fla. 
The  Cathedral  Church 
Of  St.  Luke, 
Orlando,  Fla.,  Jan.   15,   1909. 


THE    FRIENDS   OF   THE    FLORIDA   SEMINOLES. 

A  few  years  ago  great  interest  was  manifested  in 
these  Florida  wards,  when  a  Society  called  "  The 
Friends  of  the  Florida  Seminoles  "  was  organized  at 
Kissimmee,  Fla.,  with  the  Rev.  William  Crane  Gray, 
Bishop  of  the  South  Florida  Episcopal  Church,  Presi 
dent;  Rev.  D.  A.  Dodge,  Vice-president;  Mr.  James 
M.  Willson,  Jr.,  Secretary,  and  State  Senator  C.  A. 
Carson,  Treasurer.  Other  officers  (trustees)  were 
the  late  George  W.  Wilson,  Editor-in-chief  of  the 
Florida  Times-Union;  Hon.  J.  R.  Parrott,  President 
of  the  Florida  East  Coast  Railroad  Co.,  and  Capt. 
F.  M.  Hendry,  Fort  Myers,  Fla. 

This  body,  assisted  by  the  active  interest  and 
sympathy  of  Gov.  W.  D.  Bloxam,  Mr.  P.  A.  Van 
Agnew,  and  Mr.  Kirk  Munroe,  made  it  possible  for 
the  Society  to  accomplish  its  State-wide  results,  num 
bering  among  its  members  philanthropic  people  from 
Maine  to  California. 

The  object  of  this  society  was  to  enlist  the  sym 
pathy  of  the  American  people  for  these  homeless 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       69 

people  and  to  strenuously  oppose  the  removal  of  the 
Seminoles  from  the  State  against  their  consent.  No 
really  true  American,  whether  he  be  an  Indian  sym 
pathizer  or  not,  can  feel  any  but  sympathy  for  the 
Florida  Seminole  if  he  understand  the  true  status  of 
his  condition,  and  when  the  Society  of  the  Friends 
of  the  Florida  Seminoles  was  established,  a  great 
wave  of  sympathy  was  felt  all  over  the  country  and 
requests  for  membership  came  in  from  all  ranks, 
the  highest  circles  of  finance,  from  social  leaders, 
educational  centers  and  government  officials.  It  was 
recognized  an  honor  to  belong  to  the  organization. 

The  membership  list  is  still  open  and  the  Society 
earnestly  appeals  to  the  people  of  America  to  take  a 
friendly  interest  in  the  future  fate  of  this  forlorn  rem 
nant,  who  are  one  of  Florida's  most  native  posses 
sions,  and  to  aid  in  securing  for  them  permanent 
homes  in  the  unsettled  portions  of  the  State  before  it 
is  too  late. 

The  interest  and  work  of  the  Society  was  greatly 
aided  through  the  editorial  columns  of  Harper's 
Weekly,  when  Edward  S.  Martin  made  an  appeal  in 
behalf  of  that  band  of  Seminoles  known  as  the  Cow 
Creeks.  The  object  was  to  purchase  a  tract  of  land 
on  which  was  located  about  seventy-five  Indians. 
They  had  lived  here  for  thirty  years,  cultivating  part 
of  the  land, and  using  the  rest  as  a  range  for. their 
hogs,  but  as  they  had  no  legal  title  to  the  land,  they 
were  at  the  mercy  of  squatters  who  coveted  them. 
About  four  hundred  dollars  were  raised,  but  when 
the  attempt  was  made  to  locate  these  Indians,  cow- 

\ 


70       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

boys  and  land-grabbers  had  alarmed  them,  by  telling 
them  that  the  Government  was  getting  ready  to 
round  them  up  and  take  them  West,  and  like  fright 
ened  deer  they  left  their  homes  and  retired  again  to 
the  swamp  fastnesses. 

The  Society  purchased  some  fields  upon  which  the 
Indians  were  camping  with  Harper's  fund  —  the  re 
mainder  of  the  funds  being  held  in  trust  for  its  orig 
inal  purpose.  The  Society  secured  great  public  senti 
ment  in  their  favor,  and  hoped  to  obtain  lands 
through  legislation.  Centuries  of  wrong  from  hands 
too  powerful  to  be  resisted  have  taught  these  red 
Americans  the  patience  of  despair. 

Amid  the  blessings  of  Chrisitanity,  the  Seminole 
is  an  outcast  from  sympathy  and  an  alien  to  hope,  yet 
he  has  never  ceased  to  be  manly.  While  we  protect 
the  deer  and  the  alligator,  the  quail  and  the  fish,  shall 
we  leave  our  brother  in  bronze  a  prey  to  the  lawless 
and  a  helpless  victim  of  every  loafer? 

The  only  way  to  protect  these  wards  of  Florida  is 
to  buy  a  reservation,  and  hold  it  in  trust  for  them  — 
forever. 

Even  at  this  writing,  that  trackless  waste  of  saw- 
grass  and  water  with  its  scattering  islands  and  la 
goons,  constitutes  the  great  political  question  among 
Florida  people  —  the  drainage  of  the  Everglades. 

We  cannot  but  admire  the  proud  and  independent 
spirit  of  the  Seminole  as  he  rufuses,  in  firm  but  Indian- 
like  measures,  the  proffered  liberality  of  a  Govern 
ment  which  he  believes  has  wronged  him.  And, 
from  his  high  pinnacle  of  pride,  he  certainly  bears  the 


A    SEMINOLE    CAMP-FIRE 

The   Indian  mode  of  making  a  fire. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       71 

distinction  of  being  the  only  American  who  has  been 
found  unwilling  to  share  the  spoils  of  the  nation. 
So  he  says,  "  We  have  listened  to  the  great  father  at 
Washington.  The  Great  Spirit  wishes  no  change  in 
his  red  children.  If  you  teach  our  children  the 
knowledge  of  the  white  people,  they  will  cease  to  be 
Indians.  To  know  how  to  read  and  write  is  very 
good  for  white  men,  but  very  bad  for  red  men. 
Long  time  ago,  some  of  our  fathers  wrote  upon  a  lit 
tle  piece  of  paper  without  the  nation  knowing  any 
thing  about  it.  When  the  agent  called  the  Indians 
together  he  told  them  the  little  paper  was  a  treaty 
which  their  brethren  had  made  with  the  great  father 
at  Washington,  and  lo  !  they  found  that  their  brethren 
by  knowing  how  to  write,  had  sold  their  lands  and  the 
graves  of  their  fathers  to  the  white  race.  Tell  our 
great  father  at  Washington  that  we  want  no  schools, 
neither  books,  for  reading  and  writing  makes  very 
bad  Indians.  We  are  satisfied.  Let  us  alone." 
After  this  speech  delivered  in  the  native  tongue,  the 
council  breaks  up,  and  the  proud  Seminole  betakes 
himself  to  the  Everglades.  The  Seminole  is  dis 
posed  to  make  a  child's  bargain  with  the  big  white 
chief:  "  You  let  me  alone,  and  I  will  let  you  alone. " 
Photographs  of  the  Carlisle  Indian  boys  have  been 
used  to  illustrate  the  improvement  which  follows  edu 
cation;  but  the  Seminole  youth  turns  away  with  dis 
dain,  as  he  notes  the  closely  shaven  head  and  the 
American  dress,  and  says,  "  Indian  no  want  books, 
make  'em  white  man,  white  man  mean  heap  lie  too 
much."  With  a  gesture  faithful  to  the  Indian,  he 


72       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

refers  to  the  "  long  time  ago,  Seminoles  had  lands, 
cattle,  slaves;  white  man  steal 'em."  This  statement 
of  the  Indians  is  corroborated  by  the  old  white  set 
tlers  of  to-day,  who  fought  the  Indians.  They  tell 
that  General  Jessup's  army,  on  coming  to  the  great 
cattle  country  of  South  Florida,  began  a  systematic 
slaughter  of  all  the  cattle  found.  A  body  of  soldiers, 
too  large  to  fear  an  attack,  would  round  up  a  herd 
of  the  Indian's  cattle  and  sitting  on  their  horses,  shoot 
them  all  down.  Up  to  this  time  the  Indians  were 
regular  stock  dealers,  their  customers  being  the  Cu 
bans  and  Minorcans.  General  Jessup's  report  of  his 
march  into  the  "  Indian  country,"  says,  "  On  the  28th 
(January,  1837),  tne  army  moved  forward  and  oc 
cupied  a  strong  position  on  '  Ta-hop-ka-li-ga  '  Lake, 
where  several  hundred  head  of  cattle  were  obtained." 

The  tribe  to-day  are  taught  by  the  chiefs  to  regard 
the  whites,  in  general,  as  lacking  in  honor  and  courage, 
weak  and  insignificant,  or  in  Seminole  dialect,  "  white 
man  —  ho-lo-wa-gus "  (no  good).  This  is  easily 
understood  when  we  consider  the  strong  attachment 
an  Indian  bears  to  his  native  hunting  grounds;  and 
when  the  memory  runs  back  to  the  time  when  our 
Government  banished  their  friends  and  relatives  to 
the  unknown  wilds  of  the  West,  and  they  went  silent 
and  weeping  toward  the  setting  sun.  Their  bitterness 
is  consistent  with  their  ideas  of  injustices  practiced 
upon  them. 

History,  romance  and  poetry  have  held  up  the 
characteristics  of  the  red  man  to  our  gaze  from 
childhood.  And  while  treachery  may  be  a  distin- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      73 


guishing  feature  of  the  Indian  nature,  yet  the  lowest 
one  of  them  has  some  conception  of  honor  when 
fairly  approached.  History  shows  that  all  through 
the.  Serninole  war,  misrepresentations  and  dishonor 
able  schemes  were  practiced  against  them  by,  the 
whites.  Almost  universal  sympathy  goes  out  to  this 
remnant  of  people  who  fought  so  bravely  and  so 
persistently  for  the  land  of  their  birth,  for  their 
homes,  for  the  burial  place  of  their  kindred.  As 
their  traditions  tell  them  of  the  oppression  their  peo 
ple  suffered  as  they  wandered  in  the  wilderness  thrice 
forty  years,  who  can  tell  the  secret  of  their  hearts? 
To  do  this,  it  would  be  necessary  to  become,  for  the 
time,  an  Indian,  to  put  ourselves  in  his  place  —  and 
what  white  man  has  ever  done  this  ?  Ask  the  waters 
of  Tohopeliga,  or  the  winds  that  waft  across  Okee- 
chobee.  To  the  elements  are  whispered  the  heart 
throbs  of  these  red  fawns  of  the  forest.  The  present 
Florida  Indians  are  descendants  of  that  invincible 
tribe  who  were  never  conquered  by  the  force  of  arms. 
Refusing  in  1842  to  accompany  their  people  to  the 
mysterious  West,  they  ceased  to  exist  save  for  them 
selves.  Finding  refuge  in  the  almost  inaccessible 
Everglades,  they  were  for  a  time  almost  lost  to  the 
historian.  They  have  no  legal  existence,  and  hence 
no  rights  that  a  white  man  is  bound,  by  law,  to  re 
spect.  There  are  no  Indian  troubles  in  Florida  at 
present,  but  every  few  months  a  cry  comes  from  hun 
gry  land-grabbers,  or  from  trappers  and  hunters,  that 
the  Seminoles  are  killing  off  the  deer  and  plume  birds. 
The  changing  conditions  in  the  lower  peninsular 


74       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

country  will  eventually  lead  up  to  difficulties;  and 
"Where  shall  we  locate  the  Indians?"  becomes  a 
serious  problem. 

The  Florida  Times-Union  editorially  says: 

All  the  murderous,  cut-throat,  unkempt  and  squalid  In 
dians  in  the  United  States  whom  the  Government  fears  are 
provided  with  reservations  and  such  luxuries  as  they  never 
before  had  in  their  lives,  but  the  Seminoles  of  Florida,  the 
finest  specimens  of  Indian  manhood  in  this  country,  clean  in 
body,  pure  in  morals,  and  as  brave  as  the  lion  that  roams  the 
desert,  with  whom  so  many  treaties  have  been  wantonly 
broken,  are  being  driven  farther  and  farther  into  the  Ever 
glades  and  their  hunting  grounds  confiscated  to  the  land 
grabbers.  Is  this  justice? 

Should  the  whites  drive  off  the  Seminoles,  and  thus 
approve  their  greed  for  land  by  taking  the  posses 
sions  the  Indians  now  occupy,  what  good  would  it  do 
them?  Internal  improvement  companies,  by  their 
franchises,  would  sooner  or  later  take  the  blood 
stained  acres  from  them.  Let  settlers  in  Florida,  or 
in  any  part  of  the  country,  turn  over  their  accounts 
and  see  how  many  acres  have  been  credited  to  them, 
either  from  the  State  or  from  the  general  Govern 
ment,  without  the  equivalent  of  homesteading  or  for 
cash.  The  "  Western "  style  of  disposing  of  the 
Indian's  inheritance  must  not  be  followed  in  fair 
Florida.  It  seems  hard  that  these  natives  who  ask 
no  aid  of  our  nation,  should  be  forced  to  the  wall 
by  the  march  of  civilization.  To  the  Western  In 
dians,  under  the  protection  of  the  Government,  and 
supplied  in  a  large  measure  by  the  taxes  which  civil- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       75 

ization  pays,  pages  are  devoted  by  philanthropists  for 
the  betterment  of  their  condition.  The  rights  of  the 
Seminoles  of  Florida  should  be  defended.  The  day 
is  not  far  distant  when  they  must  be  made  to  go  to 
the  reservation  in  Arkansas  or  to  lands  set  apart  for 
them  in  Florida.  To  remove  them  from  their  trop 
ical  homes  to  the  chilling  blasts  of  the  Indian  Terri 
tory  would  be  an  act  of  cruelty  and  wholly  unneces 
sary.  Those  of  us  who  have  enjoyed  life  in  this  land 
of  the  palm,  this  land  of  the  balmy  air  and  life-giving 
sunshine,  reveling  in  the  eternal  bloom  of  the  flowers 
and  the  ceaseless  song  of  the  birds,  can  well  picture 
the  struggle  it  would  cost  the  patient  Seminole  to  be 
forced  to  a  cold  western  land.  No,  fair  Florida,  the 
ancestors  of  these  proud  people  were  forced  to  the 
country  of  the  setting  sun  silent  and  dejected.  But, 
with  the  spirit  of  Osceola,  if  they  must  perish,  it  will 
be  here  —  here  upon  the  land  of  their  birth,  upon  the 
graves  of  their  kindred.  The  lands  they  now  occupy 
are  of  little  value  to  the  white  race  and  might  be 
made  a  safe  reserve  for  them  —  forever.  Cowboys 
who  hunt  upon  the  Okeechobee  plains,  say  the  In 
dians  are  peaceably  disposed  and  friendly,  and  have 
never  yet  disturbed  or  threatened.  They  are  certainly 
not  foot-sore  for  the  warpath  and  are  fearful  of 
doing  anything  to  arouse  the  whites.  "  Indian  no 
fight,"  is  the  answer  to  the  questioner.  They  have 
sense  enough  to  know  that  if  war  should  come  again 
it  would  mean  extermination  for  them ;  and  their  love 
for  the  "  Flower  Land  "  is  so  deep  that  the  thought 
of  exile  would  cost  a  struggle  they  dare  not  attempt. 


76       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Yet,  feeble  remnant  that  they  are,  with  the  same 
heroic  blood  coursing  their  veins  that  inspired  their 
ancestors  and  made  them  almost  invulnerable,  the 
present  Seminole  would  choose  to  die  rather  than 
submit  to  removal.  And  in  their  swampy  fastnesses, 
they  could  maintain  a  contest  that  would  cost  us 
thousands  of  dollars  and  many  precious  lives. 


OUR  DUTY  TO  THESE   WARDS   OF  THE   NATION. 

Under  the  present  status  the  Seminoles  are  pros 
perous,  happy  and  contented.  But  the  vanguard  of 
civilization  is  marching  on,  and  thinking,  friendly 
minds  must  solve  the  question  of  the  protection  for 
this  remnant  of  a  tribe  we  have  dispossessed  of  their 
natural  rights.  Dwellers  of  every  land,  from  Scan 
dinavia  to  the  Congo  have  a  Christian  welcome  to 
our  shores.  The  slums  of  Europe  pour  in  upon  us 
to  fill  our  almshouses  and  to  be  supported  by  our 
taxes.  We  have  during  the  past  quarter  century  con 
tributed  more  than  $50,000,000  to  the  education  of 
the  freedmen,  yet  except  in  individual  cases,  the  im 
provement  is  scarcely  noticable. 

Men  and  women  are  sacrificing  their  lives  for  the 
heathen  of  other  lands.  Is  not  the  Seminole,  this 
remnant  of  a  long-persecuted  people,  as  worthy  of 
consideration  as  the  oppressed  Cuban  or  the  half- 
naked  Filipino? 

Christianity  is  donating  millions  of  money  to  this 
end,  while  our  own  "  wards,"  too  many  of  them,  are 
yet  living  in  the  dark  superstitions  of  their  fathers- 


Photograph  by  E.    IV.   Histed. 

CHIEFTAIN    TALLAHASSEE,    WITH    HIS    WHITE    FRIEND,    THE 
LATE   L.   A.   WILLSOX 

"  The   very   history  of   the   tribe   is   carved   in   poor  Tallahassee's    face.     H- 
is    the    incarnation    of    'The    Man    without    a    Country.'" 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       77 

It  is  possible  it  will  take  time  and  patience  before 
any  shining  results  are  apparent.  Not  until  confi 
dence  is  restored  will  the  embittered  Seminole  yield 
to  the  overtures  of  our  Government.  In  an  educa 
tional  sense  the  older  Indians  will  not  be  benefited, 
except  through  the  influence  of  their  children.  The 
logic  of  events  demands  absorption  of  this  people 
into  our  National  life,  not  as  Indians,  but  as  Ameri 
can  citizens;  and  the  sooner  they  can  be  induced  to 
accept  lands  from  the  Government,  and  education 
for  the  youth,  the  sooner  will  the  civilization  of 
the  Seminole  cease  to  be  a  theory.  The  permanent 
duty  of  the  hour  is  to  prepare  the  rising  genera 
tion  for  the  new  order  of  events  that  must  come. 
Because  these  bands  of  the  Seminoles  are  prouder, 
more  invincible  than  the  old  Saxons,  because  they 
are  savages,  yet  heroes  many  of  them,  all  the  good 
of  life  should  not  be  withheld  from  them.  It  has 
taken  years  of  labor  to  obtain  the  shining  of  even 
the  few  rays  of  light  that  relieve  the  gloom  of  the 
heathen  countries  of  the  Orient.  It  would  be  un 
reasonable  to  expect  the  offspring  of  savages  to  at 
tain  in  a  short  time  to  anything  like  the  thrift  of  a 
Nation  like  ours.  Yet,  with  a  few  years  of  humane 
treatment,  unviolated  pledges,  with  Christian  and 
patriotic  examples  set  before  them,  this  little  band  of 
Florida  Indians  would  become  worthy  representa 
tives  of  this  fair  land. 

Were  any  future  danger  to  threaten  the  United 
States,  the  Seminoles  would  be  found  to  be  brave 
allies.  The  pledge  to  General  Worth  by  this 


78       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

remnant  of  hostiles,  who,  in  1842,  refused  to  emi 
grate  with  the  rest  of  their  tribe,  temporarily  agree 
ing  "  to  confine  themselves  to  certain  limits  and 
abstain  from  all  aggressions  upon  their  white  neigh 
bors,"  seems  to  be  held  sacred  by  their  descendants. 
The  question  was  put  to  Billy  Bowlegs,  one  of  the 
most  intelligent  of  the  present  Indians,  as  to  what 
his  people  would  do  were  the  whites  to  encroach, 
and  take  the  clearings  of  his  tribe  are  now  occupy 
ing,  "  Would  Indian  fight?  "  The  young  brave  re 
plied  with  downcast  face,  "  Indian  no  fight,  Indian 
no  kill,  Indian  go."  Pursuing  the  subject  further, 
"  but,  Billy,  by  and  by,  may  be  one  year,  five  years, 
may  be,  white  man  go,  take  all  your  land,  take 
Okeechobee,  then  where  will  Indians  go?"  With 
the  same  bowed  head,  the  answer  came  low  and  soft, 
"  Me  don't  know  —  Indian  go."  Then  to  test  his 
idea  of  an  ally,  the  question  was  asked,  "  What  would 
Seminole  Indians  do,  Billy,  if  the  Spaniards  from 
across  the  big  salt  water  would  come  to  fight  the 
white  people  of  Florida?  "  Quickly  and  with  spirit 
came  the  answer,  "  Indians  help  white  man  to  fight." 
Unless  action  be  taken,  there  will  come  a  time,  when, 
leaving  no  trace  behind  them,  the  Seminole  shall 
pass  out  of  the  world.  He  shall  go,  like  the 
mist. 

We  cannot  undo  the  past,  but  the  future  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  people.  In  Canada  there  are  over 
100,000  Indians.  They  are  called  the  Indian  sub 
jects  of  His  Majesty;  all  held  amenable  to  the  law 
and  protected  by  it.  Statistics  show  that  on  one  side 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       79 

of  the  line  the  nation  has  spent  millions  of  money 
in  Indian  wars,  while  on  the  other,  with  the  same 
greedy  Anglo-Saxon  race,  not  one  dollar  has  been 
spent,  and  there  has  never  been  a  massacre. 

The  caustic  remark  that  the  only  good  Indian  is 
a  dead  Indian  might  apply  to  the  savage  Apache; 
but  when  one  has  studied  the  home  life  of  the 
Seminoles,  observed  their  domestic  felicity,  from 
which  many  white  men  might  take  example,  noted 
their  peaceful,  contented  character,  he  can  only  see 
in  them  an  attractive  race,  and  worthy  the  proud 
lineage  they  claim.  Surely  if  ever  the  strong  were 
bound  to  aid  the  weak,  we  are  bound  to  help  them, 
to  treat  them  as  human  beings,  possessed  of  human 
rights,  and  deserving  the  protection  of  American 
law.  This  without  doubt,  they  will  be  willing  to  ac 
cept,  when  our  nation  by  kind,  courteous  and  honor 
able  means  secures  their  lost  confidence ;  and  when 
our  National  Christianity  shall  take  measures  to  make 
our  land  for  them  a  home  where  they  may  dwell  in 
peace  and  safty. 

CHIEF   TALLAHASSEE. 

Almost  four  hundred  years  have  passed  since  that 
fair  April  day  when  Ponce  de  Leon  anchored  on  the 
verdant  shores  of  Florida.  Since  the  Spanish  cava 
lier  planted  the  silken  flag  of  Spain  upon  her  soil, 
Florida  has  been  surrounded  by  a  halo  of  romance 
and  tragedy.  Between  the  time  of  her  discovery 
and  to-day,  what  marvelous  scenes  have  been  wit- 


8o       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

nessed  upon  her  fair  plains  and  along  the  borders 
of  her  wild,  dark  rivers. 

The  ancient  race  who  greeted  the  old  Castilian 
has  vanished  and,  save  in  the  little  band  of  Seminoles 
secreted  in  the  mysterious  and  weird  wilderness  of 
the  Everglades,  no  trace  of  the  red  man  is  visible. 
A  description  of  a  type  of  this  fragment  of  a  people 
will  enable  the  reader  to  form  a  better  conception 
of  the  tribe  as  a  whole ;  and  no  name  is  more  worthy 
to  place  in  these  pages  than  that  of  Tallahassee. 

The  old  chieftain  in  appearance  is  noble  and  intel 
lectual,  and  there  is  that  in  his  look  and  bearing  which 
at  once  pronounces  him  something  more  than  the 
mere  leader  of  a  savage  tribe.  While  his  silvered 
head  marks  the  cycle  of  many  years,  in  his  attire 
of  scarlet  and  white,  embraced  by  the  traditional 
brightly  beaded  sash,  he  exhibits  a  dignified  and 
patriarchial  bearing.  His  countenance,  while  indeed 
mellowed  with  the  cares  of  four-score  years  and  ten, 
is  kindly,  and  shows  a  conquered  spirit.  The  linea 
ments  of  noble  features  are  traceable  in  the  broad 
forehead,  the  firm,  thin  lips,  and  eyes  that  might 
pierce  the  rays  of  the  sun.  Tallahassee  shows  no  re 
sentment  to  the  whites,  yet  he  believes  that  they  have 
treated  the  Indian  badly. 

It  may  seem  strange  to  talk  of  gentlemanliness  in 
an  untutored  savage,  but  the  demeanor  of  this  Sem- 
inole  chief  must  dignify  any  family  in  the  land.  But 
that  face !  Heaven  forbid  that  any  native  of  free 
America  should  wear  so  sad,  almost  heartbroken  an 
expression  as  that  which  seams  poor  Tallahassee's 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       81 

face.  No  child  could  look  upon  it  without  being  im 
pressed  by  its  mournful  pathos.  The  very  history  of 
the  tribe  is  carved  there. 

When  Osceola,  with  his  compatriots,  went  on  the 
war-path,  Tallahassee  was  a  small  boy,  and  re 
members  well  when  his  father  and  a  few  companions 
were  surrounded  and  killed  by  the  soldiers  near  Tal 
lahassee,  the  capital  of  the  State.  Chipco,  the  chief 
of  the  tribe,  was  Tallahassee's  uncle;  he  escaped 
from  the  soldiers,  and  made  his  way  to  the  Ever 
glades  where  he  lived  to  be  nearly  one  hundred  years 
old.  Rosa,  the  sister  of  Tallahassee,  became  his 
squaw.  They  were  childless,  and  at  Chipco's  death, 
Tallahassee  inherited  the  title,  but  as  a  reward  for 
bravery  displayed  in  saving  his  life  on  two  occasions, 
Chipco  had  made  him  chief  years  before  he  died. 

There  is  no  trace  of  a  revengeful  spirit  in  either 
word  or  manner  when  Tallahassee  speaks  of  his 
father's  tragic  death,  but  with  the  stoicism  of  a 
philosopher,  he  seems  to  have  accepted  it  as  one  of 
the  cruel  fortunes  of  war,  and  has  nobly  "  buried 
the  tomahawk."  Tallahassee  is  no  stern  warrior 
with  blood-stained  hands,  but  wears  worthily  the 
dignities  of  his  ancestral  station,  and  in  many  ways 
might  be  imitated  with  profit  by  his  more  cultured 
pale-faced  brother.  He  is  a  true  type  of  the  "  noble 
red  man,"  and  in  any  other  walk  of  life  would  have 
risen  to  eminence.  Of  all  the  Seminoles,  Tallahassee 
is  the  most  friendly  to  the  whites.  With  the  inborn 
courtesy  that  is  native  to  all  true  greatness,  this  un 
tutored  Indian  will  welcome  you  to  his  wigwam 


'82       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

and  with  royal  grace  dispense  the  hospitalities  at  his 
command.  Few  enter  his  presence,  and  none  leave 
it  without  this  mental  tribute  to  his  high  character. 
The  old  chief  is  treated  with  care  and  consideration, 
and  a  homage  is  paid  to  him  by  the  younger  members 
of  the  tribe.  Among  the  Seminoles,  when  a  member 
of  the  tribe  becomes  too  old  for  usefulness  or  self- 
help,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  young  men  to  con 
tribute  their  share  to  his  support  They  are  taught 
to  do  this  more  as  an  honor  than  as  a  burden. 

As  the  years  pass,  more  pathetic  grows  the  life  of 
the  hereditary  chieftain. 

A  few  years  ago,  after  numerous  invitations,  Tal 
lahassee  was  persuaded  to  leave  his  swamp  home  to 
make  a  visit  to  the  home  of  the  writer.  The  old 
patriarch  was  accompanied  by  Billy  Bowlegs,  who 
showed  the  tenderest  care  for  him.  With  one  horse 
between  them  they  traveled  from  the  Everglades  to 
Bassinger,  the  terminus  of  the  steamboat  line  to  Kis- 
simmee.  Then  they  boarded  the  steamer  Roseada,  ar 
riving  at  Kissimmee  after  two  days'  river  travel. 
They  attracted  much  attention  and  were  the  recipients 
of  many  small  presents  from  sympathetic  friends. 
They  were  both  in  full  costume,  the  old  chief  wear 
ing  the  regalia  of  his  rank,  sashes  of  bead  work  and 
red  beaded  leggins.  On  reaching  the  home  of  their 
host,  they  immediately  began  unpacking  the  bundle 
they  carried,  which  indicated  they  had  been  preparing 
for  many  moons  back  for  this  eventful  visit.  Nu 
merous  garments,  new  and  fanciful,  were  carefully 
withdrawn.  The  next  morning  being  the  Sabbath, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       83 

they  dressed  with  greatest  care  for  the  Sunday  School 
and  church  services,  which  they  enjoyed  to  the  fullest. 
Knowing  the  famous  chieftain  would  attend  service, 
the  church  was  crowded  and  at  the  close  of  the 
services  parents  with  their  children  crowded  around 
the  old  chieftain  eager  to  shake  hands  with  him; 
and  with  a  pleasant  beam  of  gratitude  in  his  eyes, 
he  received  these  greetings  of  the  white  friends. 

It  is  a  pleasing  fact  that  Tallahassee,  a  savage  and 
the  representative  of  an  almost  destitute  people,  re 
ceived  a  homage  and  as  kindly  a  greeting  as  was 
ever  accorded  to  any  visitor  to  the  little  city  of  Kis- 
simmee.  However  adverse  a  man  may  be  to  the 
Florida  Indian  in  general,  if  he  looks  into  the  history 
of  the  Seminoles  of  Florida,  he  not  only  becomes 
friendly,  but  eager  to  see  justice  meted  out  to  them. 

As  Tallahassee  bade  "  good-bye,"  he  said,  "  Me 
no  more  come  to  Kissimmee  City  —  old  too  much." 
He  had  come  as  an  ambassador  of  his  tribe  to  tell 
his  white  friends  the  history  of  his  race,  and  as 
memory  went  back  to  the  olden  days  of  bloodshed 
and  accounts  of  home  after  home  wrested  from  his 
people,  he  trembled  with  suppressed  emotion.  An 
guish,  interblended  with  the  mournful  pathos  of  his 
face,  made  a  picture  too  sad  to  look  upon.  It  was 
a  period  of  agonizing  struggle  for  this  gallant,  but 
conquered  Seminole. 

Sad  and  prophetic  were  his  farewell  words,  for 
a  short  time  after  he  reached  his  swamp  home,  he 
was  taken  with  violent  pains  in  his  head,  and  as  Billy 
Bowlegs  reported  it,  "  Pain  three  days  —  pain  go, 


84       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

—  Tallahassee  blind  ojus  "  (heap).  The  old  chief 
tain,  though  totally  blind  and  physically  helpless,  rules 
his  band  with  the  same  stoic  will  of  days  long  ago, 
when  he  carried  them  to  the  wilderness  and  wrenched 
them  from  the  white  man's  bullets  and  Uncle  Sam's 
bloodhounds.1 


INCREASING. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Seminoles  are  dy 
ing  off,  and  can  last  but  a  few  years  longer.  On  the 
contrary,  they  have  large  families  of  strong,  healthy 
children,  and  the  past  ten  years  has  shown  a  marked 
increase  in  their  number.  The  strict  law  allowing 
no  persons  of  like  gens  to  marry  is  a  reason  why  the 
tribe  does  not  multiply  still  more  rapidly.  There 
are  instances  where  eligible  young  men  find  great 
difficulty  in  getting  wives  because  of  the  strictness 
governing  the  gens  or  consanguinity  law.  One  chief 
has  two  daughters  who  find  the  same  trouble  in 
getting  married  because  the  men  of  their  choice  are 
too  closely  connected  to  them.  Thus,  a  member  of 
the  Deer  clan  may  not  marry  into  the  same  clan,  no 
difference  how  far  removed  the  relationship  may 
be.  Relationship  on  the  father's  side  is  not  guarded 
against  so  strenuously,  as  the  gens  is  all  counted 
through  the  mother.  Very  often  the  law  of  mar 
riage  causes  strange  alliances  —  young  men  twenty 

1  Since  the  above  writing,  word  has  been  received  from  the 
Indian  camp  as  follows :  "  Hungry  Land,  Fla.,  Tallahassee, 
big  sleep,  one  Moon."/ 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       85 

years  of  age  having  old  women  for  wives.  From  the 
best  obtainable  resources,  there  were  in  the  year 
1859,  only  one  hundred  and  twelve  Indians  left  in 
Florida.  In  1880,  by  actual  count,  as  reported  by 
the  Smithsonian  Institute,  the  Seminoles  of  Florida 
numbered  two  hundred  and  eight.  According  to 
date  gotten  from  the  Indians  themselves  the  tribe 
to-day  numbers  nearly  six  hundred.  Of  this  num 
ber  a  great  proportion  are  young  children,  or  in  the 
language  of  the  chief  as  he  made  a  numerical  cal 
culation  of  the  members  of  the  different  families  — 
"  heap  pikcanannies,  pikcaninnies  ojus"  (plenty). 
The  Seminoles  are  divided  into  four  bands,  who  live 
in  groups  apart;  each  independent  of  the  other,  bu* 
in  friendly  relation.  They  are  the  Miami  Indians, 
the  Big  Cypress  band,  the  Talla-hassees  and  the 
Okeechobees.  Since  the  death  of  Woxo-mic-co 
(Great  Chief)  five  years  ago,  no  one  has  been  elected 
to  fill  his  place,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  his  office  will 
ever  be  filled. 

No  event  in  the  history  of  the  Seminole  tribe  since 
the  closing  of  the  war  has  been  more  tragic  than  the 
slaughter  of  eight  of  the  band,  by  the  hand  of  Jim 
Jumper,  a  half-breed  belonging  to  the  tribe.  The 
killing  occurred  in  February,  1891.  According  to 
the  Indians,  the  negro  had  bought  some  bad  whiskey 
from  a  white  trader,  and  it  made  him  "  crazy  too 
much  in  his  head  " —  doubtless  delirium  tremens. 
With  his  Winchester  in  his  hand  he  started  out. 
The  first  victim  was  his  faithful  squaw  who  hap 
pened  to  be  close  by.  Rushing  forward  and  through 


86       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

the  camp  and  meeting  the  venerable  Woxo-mic-co, 
head  chief  over  all  the  tribe,  who  was  on  a  visit 
to  the  Cow  Creek  band  from  his  council  lodge  at 
Miami,  the  crazy  half-breed  sent  a  ball  through  the 
old  chief's  head,  killing  him  instantly.  Old  Tom 
Tiger,  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  Indian  wars, 
hearing  the  firing,  came  to  the  rescue,  but  was  shot 
down  before  he  had  time  to  interpose.  Young 
Tiger,  stepping  out  of  the  wigwam  in  time  to  see 
his  father  fall  to  the  ground,  with  a  blood-curdling 
war-whoop  sprang  upon  the  maniac  and  a  hand-to- 
hand  fight  ensued;  but  he  was  at  the  wrong  end  of 
the  rifle,  and  before  he  could  wrest  it  from  his 
antagonist,  another  report  was  followed  by  the 
death-cry  of  the  brave,  young  Indian.  The  wildest 
panic  ensued,  the  women  and  children  huddling  in 
their  wigwams  or  fleeing  to  the  woods.  The  mur 
derer  now  rushed  into  the  wigwam  of  his  sister,  and 
with  his  knife  murdered  her  and  her  two  little  chil 
dren,  who  were  clinging  to  her  dress  in  terror. 
Brandishing  his  knife,  he  started  into  the  woods, 
where  he  was  killed  by  a  bullet  from  Billy  Martin's 
rifle.  The  wailing  and  the  anguish  in  that  camp 
can  better  be  imagined  than  described.  After  the 
burial  ceremony  over  the  murdered  victims,  the  body 
of  the  murderer  was  dragged  far  into  the  swamp, 
to  be  fed  upon  by  the  vultures.  Thus  passed  away 
in  less  than  half  an  hour  eight  innocent  lives,  victims 
to  the  demoralizing  influence  of  the  white  man's 
whiskey.  The  Indian  village  was  broken  up,  the 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       87 

entire  band  moving  away  to  escape  the  visitations  of 
the  spirits  of  the  murdered  ones. 

On  the  death  of  Woxo-mic-co,  four  candidates  for 
the  position  of  Big  Chief  appeared,  but  five  years 
have  passed  and  yet  no  chief  has  been  elected.  In 
the  old  chieftain's  death  the  last  vestige  of  Seminole 
war  spirit  is  obliterated.  Nowhere  in  their  history 
is  their  determination  to  live  at  peace  with  their 
white  neighbors  more  conclusively  proven  than  in  the 
abolition  of  the  office  of  Great  Chief,  "  Big  Chief  " 
and  war  councils,  in  their  minds,  being  inseparable. 

The  authority  of  the  sub-chiefs,  who  are  leaders 
of  the  different  bands,  is  purely  personal;  they  can 
not  decree  punishment  —  a  jury  or  council  alone  can 
do  this.  The  government  is  not  harsh,  and  there 
is  as  much  freedom  as  could  be  possible  in  these 
forest  homes. 


APPEARANCE    AND   DRESS. 

In  personal  appearance,  many  a  Seminole  brave 
might  be  taken  as  a  type  of  physical  excellence.  He 
is  bright  copper  in  color,  is  over  six  feet  in  height, 
his  carriage  is  self-reliant,  deliberate  and  strong. 
His  step  has  all  the  lightness  and  elasticity  that  na 
ture  and  practice  can  combine  to  produce,  as  lithe 
and  soft  as  the  tread  of  a  tiger.  The  Yale,  the 
Harvard  or  the  Oxford  student  with  years  of  train 
ing  in  the  athletic  school,  would  be  but  a  novice  in 
the  art  of  grace,  suppleness  and  mode  of  walking, 


88       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

as  compared  with  this  son  of  the  forest.  His 
features  are  regular,  his  eyes  jet  black  and  vigilant, 
always  on  the  alert;  his  nose  is  straight  but  slightly 
broadened,  his  mouth  firm  as  a  stoic's.  The  hair 
is  cut  close  to  the  head,  except  the  traditional  scalp- 
lock  of  his  fathers,  which  is  plaited  and  generally 
concealed  under  the  large  turban  that  adorns  his 
head. 

The  dress  of  the  Seminole  chief  consists  of  a 
tunic  embraced  by  a  bright  sash,  close  fitting  leggins 
of  deer-skin,  which  are  embellished  with  delicately 
cut  thongs  of  the  same  material,  that  hang  in  grace 
ful  lines  from  the  waist  to  the  ankle,  where  they  meet 
the  moccasin.  The  moccasin  is  also  made  of  deer 
skin,  and  covers  a  foot  shapely  and  smaller  than  that 
of  the  average  white  man.  A  picturesque  feature 
of  the  dress  is  the  turban.  Oriental  in  its  effect,  it 
has  become  the  emblem  of  the  race.  It  is  worn 
almost  constantly;  and  is  made  impromptu  from 
shawls  or  collossal  handkerchiefs  wrapped  round  and 
round  the  head  and  then  secured  in  shape  by  a  band, 
often  made  of  beaten  silver  which  encircles  the  whole 
with  brilliant  effect.  With  young  braves  the  more  im 
portant  the  occasion,  the  more  enormous  the  turban. 
Another  characteristic  of  the  dress  is  the  number  of 
handkerchiefs  worn,  knotted  loosely  about  the  neck. 
Regardless  of  the  temperature,  the  Indian  adorns 
himself  with  six,  eight  or  perhaps  a  dozen  of  bright 
bandannas,  exhibiting  great  pride  in  the  number  he 
possesses.  A  belt  made  of  buckskin  completes  the 
costume.  From  this  are  suspended  a  hunting  knife, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      89 

a  revolver,  a  pouch  in  which  is  carried  the  ammuni 
tion  and  small  articles  necessary  for  the  chase. 

The  physique  of  the  women  will  compare  favor 
ably  with  that  of  the  men.  They  are  healthy  and 
robust,  and  among  the  younger  members  some 
comely  well-featured  women  are  found.  The  dress 
of  the  squaw  is  very  simple,  consisting  of  a  straight, 
full  skirt,  made  long  enough  to  hide  the  feet.  The 
upper  part  of  the  dress  is  a  long  sleeve,  loose-fitting 
waist,  which  fails  to  meet  the  waist  band  of  the  skirt 
by  about  two  inches;  this  oddly  fashioned  garment 
is  cut  large  enough  in  the  neck  to  be  put  on  or  taken 
off  over  the  head.  A  large  collar,  fashioned  after 
the  collarettes  worn  by  the  fashionables  of  the  season 
of  1896,  completes  the  toilet.  A  Seminole  woman 
wears  no  head-dress  of  any  description.  Even  when 
visiting  the  white  settlements  they  go  with  their  heads 
uncovered.  Neither  do  they  wear  moccasins,  at  home 
or  abroad,  in  winter  or  in  summer.  They  are 
always  bare-footed. 

Vanity  and  coquetry  are  inborn  in  the  female 
character.  The  Seminole  maiden  whose  life  has 
been  spent  among  the  swamps  "  far  from  the 
madding  crowd "  and  fashion's  emporium,  still 
practices  the  arts  of  her  pale  faced  sister.  She  af 
fects  the  bang  and  the  psyche  knot  with  as  much 
ease  as  the  New  York  belle,  and  with  such  metro 
politan  airs  soon  captivates  her  forest  lover.  The 
same  passionate  desire  for  gold  and  jewels,  ever  up 
permost  in  the  heart  of  the  civilized  white  woman,  be 
she  peasant  or  queen,  shows  itself  in  the  Seminole 


90       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

squaw.  Silver  breast-plates,  made  from  quarters 
and  half  dollars,  beaten  into  various  designs,  add  to 
their  personal  adornment  on  festal  occasions.  What 
the  turban  is  to  the  brave,  such  is  the  necklace  of 
of  beads  to  the  woman.  It  is  her  chief  glory  and 
is  worn  constantly.  Her  ambition  seems  to  be  to 
gather  as  many  strings  of  these  highly  colored  beads 
about  the  neck  as  she  can  carry,  often  burdening  her 
self  with  several  pounds.  Even  the  wee  tots  are 
adorned  with  small  strings  of  the  much  prized  neck 
lace. 

Many  years  ago,  when  the  Indians  were  encamped 
on  the  Kissimmee  River,  Chief  Tallahassee  with  two 
or  three  of  the  squaws  visited  Kissimmee.  Being 
taken  into  a  room  to  see  a  newly-born  babe,  he  di 
rected  a  squaw  to  take  from  her  neck  a  string  of 
beads  and  put  it  around  the  neck  of  the  "  little  white 
pappoose."  This  was  done  as  an  act  of  greatest 
honor,  to  show  the  Indian's  appreciation  of  hospitali 
ties  received  at  this  house. 


INDEPENDENCE   AND    HONOR. 

To-day  as  we  meet  the  Seminole  "  at  home,"  we 
find  the  wigwam  made  of  palmetto  leaves  and  the 
skins  of  wild  animals;  the  floor  of  this  structure  is 
made  of  split  logs  and  elevated  about  two  feet  above 
the  ground.  A  few  of  the  Indians  have  in  late 
years  built  board  houses,  but  the  roof  is  made  of 
palmetto  thatch.  Here,  surrounded  by  the  gloom 
and  weirdness  of  the  Everglades,  miles  from  white 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       91 

man's  habitation,  the  baying  of  the  alligator,  the 
hooting  of  the  great  horn  owl,  and  the  croaking  of 
the  heron  are  the  only  sounds  to  be  heard.  Truly 
the  picture  is  one  of  melancholy  and  profound  dreari 
ness.  But  here  we  mid  the  aborigines  contented 
because  they  are  out  of  the  white  man's  power. 
Here  they  hold  their  councils,  here  around  the 
camp  fires  the  traditions  of  the  old  turbaned  tribe 
are  taught  to  the  youths;  here,  too,  they  follow  the 
same  customs  of  the  race  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago.  Here  is  instilled  into  the  youth  the  story 
of  the  perfidies  practiced  upon  their  fathers  by  the 
white  man;  and  as  the  children  listen  to  the  glories 
of  Osceola>  and  the  tragic  ending  of  their  hero,  the 
spirit  of  conservatism  is  engendered,  and  with  swell 
ing  hearts  they  go  on,  on,  resolute  in  their  determina 
tion  to  avoid  disaster,  by  keeping  aloof  from  the 
white  man.  Although  far  from  the  influence  of 
civilization,  knowledge  has  come  to  these  people 
naturally  which  we  have  painfully  acquired  by  books. 
Driven  to  these  Florida  jungles  after  a  seven  years' 
bloody  war,  here  the  Seminole,  thrown  absolutely 
upon  his  own  resources,  has  continued  to  dwell.  He 
has  accepted  no  aid,  his  people  have  increased,  and 
in  a  manner  have  prospered.  No  alms-houses  are 
supported  for  their  benefit.  This  independent  In 
dian  does  not  increase  the  expense  of  the  jail  nor  the 
penitentiary;  he  is  no  starving  Indian  who  must  be 
fed  at  the  expense  of  the  Government.  In  these 
red  sons  of  the  forest  we  meet  the  original  "  real 
Indian,"  unchanged  by  contact  with  the  white  man. 


92       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

The  visitor  to  the  "  Wild  West,"  who  complains  that 
"  the  Indians  do  not  look  like  the  Indians  of  fifty 
years  ago,"  would  have  little  ground  for  his  com 
plaint  were  he  to  visit  the  Seminoles  in  their  marshy 
fastnesses.  Florida  can  boast  of  one  of  the  few 
tribes  of  "  real  Indians  "  in  the  United  States.  The 
present  Seminole  must  be  credited  with  a  high  sense 
of  honor;  and  he  can  keep  a  pledge  as  well  as  did 
Massasoit.  A  few  years  ago,  during  a  teriffic  coast 
storm  some  Indian  braves  asked  shelter  of  a  Florida 
settler.  The  Indians  were  received  and  entertained 
until  the  weather  settled.  On  leaving,  the  chief 
sweeping  his  hand  toward  the  broad  Savannah,  said, 
"  Captain,  hunt  deer?  "  The  answer  was  "  Some 
times."  "  Indian  no  hunt  Captain's  deer,"  was  the 
rejoinder.  Very  little  in  itself,  but  it  meant  much, 
for  since  that  time  there  has  not  been  an  Indian 
hunter  within  miles  of  the  place. 

Famed  in  song  and  story  is  the  pledge  of  the  old 
turbaned  tribe  of  the  Seminoles.  Not  more  worthy 
are  they  of  commemoration  than  their  descendants 
of  to-day.  A  few  months  ago,  Billy  Bowlegs  and 
Tommy  Doctor  paid  an  unexpected  visit  to  Kissim- 
mee.  They  walked  from  their  camp  at  Okeechobee 
Marsh,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
miles  to  tell  their  white  friend  that  "  Indians  no  lie." 
This  was  all.  They  apparently  had  no  other  business 
in  town,  and  after  a  few  hours'  visit  left  as  quietly  as 
they  had  come.  Their  mission  was  completed,  their 
white  brother  believed  them,  their  honor  was  clear; 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       93 

they  could  now  dance  at  the  Green  Corn  Dance  with 
merry  hearts. 

A  few  months  prior  to  this,  these  Indians  had 
promised  their  white  friend  to  act  as  guide  on  a  bear 
hunt  in  the  Everglades.  All  arrangements  had  been 
made  for  the  hunt,  except  to  fix  the  time  and  place 
of  meeting.  This  was  to  be  done  through  a  white 
settler.  Later,  plans  for  the  hunt  were  perfected, 
and  word  was  sent  to  the  Indian  village.  Accord 
ing  to  their  promise  the  Indians  came  to  the  settler's 
home  on  the  day  specified,  but  found  that  the  white 
man  had  left  his  house  early  in  the  morning  with 
no  message  as  to  how  or  where  the  Indians  should 
follow.  The  Indians,  not  knowing  which  way  to 
go  to  find  the  party,  could  do  nothing  but  return  to 
their  camp  —  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  miles. 
Subsequent  developments  proved  that  the  white  man 
wished  to  act  as  guide,  and  thereby  earn  for  himself 
the  remuneration  he  expected  the  Indians  would  re 
ceive. 


THE    SEMINOLE'S    UNWRITTEN    VERDICT    OF    THE 
WHITE  RACE. 

"  Es-ta-had-kee,  ho-lo-wa-gus,  lox-ee-o-jus  " 
(White  man  no  good,  lie  too  much.) 

In  some  mysterious  way,  the  Seminole's  conception 
of  the  Decalogue  neither  to  lie,  nor  steal,  nor  cheat, 
is  the  foundation  stone  upon  which  he  builds  his 
character,  principle  and  honor,  for  it  is  taught  to 


94       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

the  race,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  to  the 
swinging  papoose  on  its  mother's  shoulders,  all 
through  life,  till  the  Great  Spirit  calls  to  the  Happy 
Hunting  Grounds.  Let  the  reader  stop  and  con 
sider  that  here  is  a  community  of  hundreds,  living 
in  open  palmetto  camps.  No  locks,  no  doors,  no 
courts,  and  no  officers  to  keep  the  law ;  a  people,  who 
for  generations  have  lived,  pure  in  morals,  with  no 
thieving,  no  trespassing,  and  no  profanity  (for  the 
Seminole  has  no  oath  in  his  language).  With  his 
conception  of  the  Deity,  he  reverences  the  name  of 
the  Great  Spirit,  and  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name 
of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain,"  he  venerates,  as  did 
the  Hebrews  in  the  days  of  Moses.  What  would 
be  the  result  if  an  equal  number  of  the  negro  race 
were  left  under  the  same  conditions  for  two  genera 
tion?  Nay,  what  would  be  the  history  of  six  hun 
dred  whites  forced  to  live  for  even  twenty-five  years 
like  the  Seminoles? 

With  the  Seminole's  power  to  condense  into  a 
single  phrase,  he  crystalizes  his  verdict  of  the  white 
man  into  the  above  forcible  expression.  In  pa 
thetic,  but  terse  language,  it  tells  of  generations  of 
wrong  treatment  at  the  hands  of  the  white  brother; 
sharp  practices  and  broken  treaties,  and  misrepre 
sentations  are  all  included  in  the  general  summing  up. 

From  his  oral  lexicon,  he  has  chosen  these  few 
words,  which  reveal  the  throbbing  inner  soul  of 
these  red  children  of  the  forests. 

No  pages,  no  volumes,  no  libraries  are  required  to 
chronicle  his  experience. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       95 

Be  it  remembered  that  all  history  of  the  relation 
of  the  two  races  has  been  written  by  the  white  his 
torian,  but  were  the  Indian  to  write  the  story,  the 
other  side  of  the.  picture  would  be  shown.  The  com 
plaints  of  the  white  man  are  carried,  as  it  were,  on 
the  wings  of  the  wind,  while  that  of  the  poor  Indian 
is  drowned  in  the  tempest. 

With  a  stoicism  born  of  generations  of  training, 
the  Seminole  shows  no  ill-will,  no  resentment,  and  the 
harshest  criticism  he  ever  makes  against  his  white 
conquerors  and  victorious  brothers  is  this  phrase, 
"  Es-ta-had  kee,  ho-lo-wag-us,  etc."  And  whether  in 
vindication  of  some  offense,  or  given  as  a  simple 
opinion,  his  pent-up  feelings  find  expression  in  this 
one  forcible  epithet,  and  seems  to  be  the  missile  he 
hurls  at  the  white  man. 

The  average  American  with  his  standard  of 
morals  calloused  by  dealings  in  the  business  and 
social  world,  smiles  at  the  Seminole's  verdict  of  his 
character  and  with  indifferent  shrug,  jocularly  re 
peats  it  as  being  only  —  the  opinion  of  an  Indian. 

But,  measured  by  the  Indian's  conception  of  honor, 
how  small  we  must  appear  to  the  Seminole  patriot, 
for,  from  his  unwritten  code  of  ethics,  to  one  who 
knows  the  well  grounded  Indian  character,  his 
estimate  of  white  manhood  means  more  than  is  ap 
parent  underneath  his  calm  exterior. 

ENDURANCE   AND    FEASTS. 

When  one  sees  the  great  moral  strength  of  the 
Seminoles,  notes  the  wonderful  physical  endurance 


96       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

of  which  they  are  capable,  observes  the  fearless, 
haughty  courage  they  display,  he  cannot  but  be  sur 
prised  that  the  Florida  wars  were  not  more  disas 
trous  than  they  were,  or  that  any  of  the  Seminoles 
ever  yielded  to  removal.  To  test  their  endurance 
the  old  chiefs  have  been  known  to  take  a  live  coal 
from  the  camp  fire,  place  it  on  the  wrist  and  without 
an  emotion  let  it  burn  until  the  heat  was  exhausted. 
Tustenuggee  would  remove  the  cool  ember  and 
quietly  reach  down  and  put  a  fresh  one  in  its  place. 
This  old  chief,  so  famous  in  history,  never  yielded 
to  removal,  and  lived  till  a  few  years  ago  with  his 
tribe  in  the  Everglades.  The  goal  of  the  Seminole 
is  to  learn  to  endure  and  to  achieve.  To  this  end 
is  every  Seminole  boy  educated,  and  different  modes 
of  developing  the  powers  of  endurance  are  employed. 
Carrying  a  deer  for  a  long  distance  without  fatigue, 
walking  or  running  for  many  miles,  jumping, 
wrestling,  poling  a  canoe,  etc.,  are  some  of  the  prac 
tical  modes.  The  Spartan  spirit  is  supreme  in  the 
minds  of  the  tribe,  and  the  youth  are  taught  that 
no  merit  is  greater  than  that  of  bearing  pain  with 
out  complaint.  At  the  annual  feast  of  the  Green 
Corn  Dance  the  young  Indians  of  a  certain  age  are 
initiated  into  the  rights  of  warriors,  and  are  subjected 
to  trying  ordeals.  They  must  pass  through  the  "  In- 
sha-pit,"  which  means  the  cutting  of  the  legs  till  the 
blood  flows,  and  other  cruel  arts,  after  which  the  In 
dian  boy  is  pronounced  a  warrior,  ready  for  the  battle 
of  life,  whatever  the  Great  Spirit  decrees.  It  is  the 
strict  adherence  to  the  teachings  of  their  ancestors 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       97 

that  makes  the  present  generation  the  brave  and 
proud  people  that  they  are. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  Seminoles  celebrate 
a  Christmas  — "  All  same  white  man's  Kismas,"  is 
their  reply  when  questioned  concerning  the  celebra 
tion.  This  is  the  great  feast  day  of  the  Shot-cay- 
taw,"  (Green  Corn  Dance)  and  occurs  each  year 
about  the  first  of  July,  and  is  the  time  for  assembling 
the  whole  band. 

The  ceremony  is  largely  under  the  control  of  the 
Medicine  Men,  who  are  important  personages  among 
all  bands,  and  act  as  advisers,  as  priests  and  as  doc 
tors.  In  the  authority  of  the  Medicine  Man  one 
recognizes  a  similarity  to  the  priests  of  the  Ancient 
East  as  well  as  the  doctrines  laid  down  by  the  Aztecs. 
The  festivals  observed  by  the  Florida  Indians  show 
teachings  centuries  old  —  blending  the  peculiarities 
of  different  races  —  the  carnival  of  the  Romans, 
with  the  Jewish  feasts  of  Moses's  day,  and  the  mys 
tic  link  of  the  Aztec  jubilee. 

The  Feast  of  the  Shot-cay-taw  has  many  similari 
ties  to  the  historical  records  of  the  National  Festival 
of  the  Aztecs.  The  feast  is  for  sorrowing,  rejoic 
ing  and  purifying.  This  is  the  beginning  of  the 
New  Year  when,  following  the  traditions  of  ancient 
people,  old  fires  are  allowed  to  go  out,  not  a  spark 
is  allowed  to  remain.  New  fire  is  produced  arti 
ficially;  this  is  the  Sacred  Fire  and  must  be  made 
with  the  flint  rock  of  their  ancestors.  The  new  fire 
is  presented  from  one  tribe  to  another,  and  is  re 
ceived  as  a  token  of  friendship.  Then  they  as- 


98       THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

scmble  around  the  fires  singing  and  dancing.  Grati 
tude  is  expressed  to  the  Great  Spirit,  if  the  year  has 
been  abundant.  If  death  has  overtaken  the  tribe 
mournful  strains  expressive  of  pity  and  supplica 
tion  are  invoked.  This  custom  was  borrowed  from 
the  ancient  tribes  who  worshipped  the  sun.  The 
Medicine  Men  arrange  the  date  for  the  Green  Corn 
Dance,  which  is  governed  by  a  certain  phase  of  the 
moon,  and  runners  are  sent  from  band  to  band  to 
announce  the  time. 

The  ceremony  preceding  the  dance  permits  all 
men  who  have  evaded  the  laws  to  be  reinstated  by 
indulging  in  certain  trying  ordeals.  The  transgres 
sors  appear  a  short  time  before  the  dance.  They 
are  placed  in  a  closed  skin  tent  where  a  large  hot 
stone  lies  on  the  fire.  The  famous  "  Black  Drink  " 
of  Osceola's  time  is  administered,  water  is  poured 
on  the  stone,  and  the  culprits  are  shut  up  in  this  suf 
focating  heat.  If  they  pass  the  ordeal,  they  are 
forgiven  and  allowed  to  join  in  the  feasting  and 
dancing  when  it  occurs.  This  same  "  Black  Drink  " 
which  is  a  nauseating  medicine  from  herbs,  is  taken 
by  all  the  tribe  on  the  first  day  of  the  dance.  This 
cleanses  the  system  and  enables  them  to  "  eat,  drink, 
and  be  merry  "  to  the  fullest  extent. 

At  this  great  re-union,  old  friendships  are  revived, 
courtships  take  a  prominent  part,  and  plans  are 
formulated  for  hunting  expeditions,  syrup  boilings 
and  u  Koonti  "  gatherings.  Members  of  one  settle 
ment  will  agree  to  meet  certain  members  of  another 
family  at  a  certain  point  on  a  fixed  day  of  the  moon. 


BILLY    BOVVLEGS    AND    TOMMY    DOCTOR 

They    walked    one    hundred    and    twenty-five    miles    to    tell    their    white 
friend,    '  Indian    no    lie.'  " 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA       99 

There  will  be  no  broken  pledges  —  no  disappoint 
ments.  The  Seminole  promises  nothing  to  his  people 
that  he  will  not  fulfill. 

One  of  the  most  picturesque  games  enjoyed  by  the 
Indians  during  this  festival  is  the  dancing  around 
the  festal  pole.  On  the  night  of  the  full  moon, 
they  dance  from  sunset  until  sunrise.  It  is  very  in 
teresting  to  see  the  harmony  in  running  around  the 
circle.  As  the  women  throw  the  ball  at  the  pole 
in  the  center,  the  men  catch  it  in  their  bags  that 
are  made  around  bent  sticks,  which  have  bows  each 
about  four  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  cross  at  the 
lower  side. 

When  the  dancing  is  over,  the  circle  about  the 
pole  is  perfectly  symmetrical,  and  about  ten  inches 
deep,  made  by  the  running  and  dancing. 

An  exciting  feature  of  the  dance  is  the  racing  for 
a  wife.  A  level  course  is  laid  off  and  the  race  be 
gins.  The  dusky  lover  selects  the  maiden  for  whom 
he  would  strive,  because  he  must  catch  her  before  he 
may  court  her.  The  Indian  girl  is  his  equal,  and 
often  his  superior  in  fleetness,  and  need  not  be 
caught  unless  she  so  wishes.  But,  like  her  civilized 
sister,  she  generally  encourages  the  pursuit  until 
she  is  tired,  and  then  gracefully  yields  on  the  home 
ward  stretch.  However,  should  she  win  the  race 
the  young  lover  need  have  no  further  aspirations  in 
that  direction.  He  may  be  saved  the  embarrassment 
of  future  humiliation. 


ioo     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

THE    HUNTING   DANCE. 

But  the  Hunting  Dance !  What  memories  of  cen 
turies  past  are  kept  alive  by  this  brown-skinned  race, 
as  they  observe  the  ancient  feast  of  an  aboriginal 
people. 

With  an  invitation  from  the  old  chieftain,  Talla 
hassee,  who  is  patriarch  of  the  tribe,  to  attend  the 
Hunting  Dance  or  Harvest  Feast,  the  temptation  was 
too  great  to  resist.  This  festival  occurs  only  in 
cycles  —  once  every  four  years  —  and  the  character 
of  its  observance  is  known  to  but  few,  if  any,  white 
people.  The  Indian  camps  are  so  inaccessible  that 
it  takes  nerve  and  muscle  to  reach  them ;  but  knowing 
that  the  entire  band  of  Indians  would  be  on  hand 
in  gala  spirits  and  gorgeous  attire,  and  knowing,  too, 
that  it  was  an  opportunity  that  might  come  but  once 
in  a  lifetime,  the  question  of  u  to  go  or  not  to  go," 
was  soon  settled,  and  preparations  for  the  irksome 
journey  were  under  way. 

By  train  ride  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  we 
reached  a  little  Florida  hamlet,  where  a  teamster 
with  a  creaking  wagon  and  a  pair  of  lean,  cadaver 
ous-looking  horses  were  secured.  Then  followed  a 
drive  of  thirty  miles  through  ponds,  swamps, 
prairie  flats,  slush  and  water;  with  sand-flies  whirring 
and  buzzing  in  our  ears  as  they  seemed  to  offer  their 
orchestral  escort  through  the  dismal  funeral  Alla- 
pata  flats.  The  journey  was  nearing  its  end.  The 
sun,  shining  with  a  July  fierceness,  glinted  the  wig 
wams  of  the  Seminoles.  Tired  and  hungry  we  ap- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLQ£H}     '-,si 


proached  the  village.  Here  the  signs  of  the  festival 
were  everywhere  apparent.  With  the  inborn 
courtesy,  that  is  ever  present  with  these  untutored 
Seminoles  in  the  presence  of  a  friend,  they  met  us 
with  royal  grace.  A  wigwam  was  placed  at  our  dis 
posal,  out  baggage  was  unloaded,  and  in  a  quiet  and 
unobtrusive  manner  a  fine  saddle  of  venison  was  pre 
sented. 

The  Indians  were  bubbling  over  with  excitement, 
for  it  was  a  time  of  rejoicing  —  a  carnival,  when 
men,  women  and  children  all  joined  in  the  merriment. 

As  our  visit  always  means  presents  for  the  Indians, 
expectant  faces  from  the  little  toddling  children,  as 
well  as  from  the  older  members  of  the  camp,  re 
minded  us  that  it  was  time  to  distribute  tobacco, 
pipes,  red  handkerchiefs,  trinkets  for  the  women, 
candy  and  nuts  for  the  little  ones. 

Happiness  pervaded  the  Everglade  village.  The 
older  Indians,  with  the  exception  of  the  old  chief, 
played  like  children,  keeping  the  joyous  revelry  up 
from  hour  to  hour. 

The  afternoon  of  our  arrival  was  devoted  to  a 
ball  game.  An  aboriginal  ball  game  !  Certainly 
played  by  a  code  of  rules  more  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years  old,  where  no  curved  balls  nor  Yale 
coaching  had  entered,  but  where  swelled  and  echoed 
the  glad  free  trump  of  joy  as  the  game  went  on  with 
scientific  strokes  and  measured  tread,  with  now  and 
then  a  "  rush  "  as  the  ball  missed  its  target  and 
bounded  out  of  its  circle.  Both  men  and  women 
participated  in  the  game,  the  women  being  as  adept 


102     rFHE'SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

as  the  men.  The  game  is  unique,  and  might  be 
practised  with  much  pleasure  by  our  American  boys. 

Within  a  circle  whose  circumference  is  about  thirty 
feet  is  erected  a  pole,  which  serves  as  a  goal.  The 
players  take  sides,  or  in  country  school  parlance, 
"  choose  up."  The  object  of  the  game  is  to  strike 
the  pole  with  the  ball,  which  is  knocked  with  a 
racket  or  stick,  which  is  made  of  hickory,  with  a 
netted  pocket  made  of  deer  thongs. 

The  ball  is  tossed  up  and  caught  in  the  netted 
pocket,  and  then  hurled  at  the  pole.  The  opposing 
side  endeavor  to  prevent  the  ball  from  touching  the 
post.  Sometimes  the  ball  strikes  the  ground  away 
beyond  the  line  of  play,  and  then  a  scamper  for  it 
is  a  moment  of  great  excitement.  Men,  women  and 
children  make  a  rush  for  the  ball,  the  victor  having 
the  next  play.  A  scorekeeper  stands  by  the  pole, 
keeping  a  record  of  the  play. 

As  the  twilight  falls  the  players  end  the  game 
and  the  feast  begins.  The  edibles  are  distributed 
into  three  parts,  the  men  taking  their  portion  and  go 
ing  to  a  selected  spot,  the  women  likewise  to  a  point 
designated  for  them,  and  the  children  to  a  third  lo 
cation.  This  peculiar  arrangement  is  not  indulged 
in  at  any  other  time,  but  has  some  ancient  signifi 
cance  and  is  followed  at  this  festival. 

When  the  feast  is  over,  which  consisted  of  the 
fruits  of  the  chase  and  the  best  products  of  the  little 
palmetto-fenced  gardens,  the  band  assembled  for  the 
grand  hunting  dance.  Campfires  burned  all  around 
the  dancing  square,  and  as  the  dusky  forms  emerged 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     103 

from  the  shadows  of  the  great  live  oaks,  clad  as 
they  were  in  most  fantastic  attire,  the  scene  was  most 
picturesque. 

Women,  men  and  children  gathered  at  the  council 
lodge.  Yards  and  yards  of  brightly-colored  ribbons 
floated  from  the  head,  neck  and  shoulders  of  the 
women,  with  beads  of  various  hues  and  many  pounds 
in  quantity  around  their  necks,  while  beaten  silver 
ornaments  fastened  on  their  waists  added  to  the  deco 
ration.  The  men,  likewise,  were  in  brilliant  coats 
and  enormous  turbans,  with  leggins  gracefully 
adorned  with  the  fringe  of  the  doe  skin,  with  moc 
casins  fresh  and  new.  Nor  had  the  children  been 
neglected,  for,  with  swirling  ribbons  and  bright  red 
dresses  that  reached  to  their  slim  ankles,  they  came 
bubbling  with  joy  and  laughter,  ready  to  take  their 
places  in  the  dance  circle. 

Now  the  dancers  are  ready.  In  the  centre  of  the 
square  the  fire,  the  Sacred  Fire,  flashes  and  flickers. 
At  each  corner  of  the  square  stands  a  pole.  The 
leader,  who  on  this  occasion  is  Chief  Bill  Stewart, 
waits  at  the  door  of  the  lodge.  He  starts  a  weird 
melody,  and  the  band  locks  hands,  marking  time  as 
they  make  up  the  chant.  The  chief  leads  off  the 
entire  band  in  the  procession,  making  as  picturesque 
a  figure  as  was  ever  witnessed  in  a  New  York  cotil 
lion. 

With  the  reader's  permission  to  digress  —  per 
tinent  at  this  point  is  the  ironical  comment  of  an 
editorial  writer  in  one  of  the  great  dailies,  when  he 
says,  "  Fancy  Lo  in  a  stove  pipe  hat."  We  have 


io4     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

seen  him  and  he  makes  a  good-looking  native  Ameri 
can.  As  he  approached,  the  splendid  form  of  Billy 
Doctor  was  recognized  in  stove  pipe  hat,  full  evening 
broadcloth  suit,  with  white  cravat,  low  cut  waistcoat, 
and  satin  lined  "  spike  tail  "  coat.  The  entire  out 
fit  was  possibly  the  gift  of  some  Palm  Beach  tourist. 
To  Billy's  credit,  he  only  wore  the  costume  for  fan 
tastic  effect. 

If  the  reader  will  follow  the  lines  of  the  accom 
panying  diagram,  tracing  from  left,  he  will  see  that 
the  long  line  of  dancers,  as  they  pass  around  the 
poles,  appears  to  be  coming  and  going,  sometimes 
three  and  four  abreast,  but  all  in  such  symmetrical 
motion  that  the  dance  is  very  beautiful,  coupled  with 


THE    HUNTING    DANCE. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     105 

the  grace  and  modesty  of  innocence,  with  an  ac 
companiment  of  singing  strangely  sweet. 

The  various  dances  of  these  people  show  how  close 
they  live  to  nature.  As  they  move  to  the  rhythmical 
cadence  of  the  owl  song,  we  hear  "  Waugh-ho-ooo- 
whoo  whoo,"  of  the  great  horned  owl;  then  the 
penewa,  or  wild  turkey  dance,  with  its  notes  of  the 
gobbling  bird;  and  so  on  with  many  others. 

A  feature  of  the  dance,  and  one  that  might  be 
commended,  is  that  those  who  dance  must  work  or 
hunt.  Each  morning  of  the  festival  every  member 
of  the  camp,  down  to  the  wee  child,  must  hunt, 
leaving  the  camp  by  daybreak  and  hunting  till  twelve 
o'clock  noon.  The  men  hunt  large  game;  the  boys 
go  for  rabbits,  birds  and  squirrels;  while  the  women 
hunt  the  hogs  and  dig  potatoes,  and  the  very  small 
children  "  hunt  "  water,  and  bring  in  sticks  of  wood. 
To  their  white  friends,  they  said,  "  Dance  to-night?  " 
This  was  intended  for  an  invitation,  and  was  an  honor 
rarely  accorded;  but  with  the  stern,  unwritten  law 
before  them,  they  explained,  "  White  friends  must 
hunt,  hunt,  hunt.  All  same  Indian.  No  hunt,  no 
dance." 

Another  picturesque  game  is  the  dancing  around 
the  festal  pole.  In  this  dance,  the  women  enter  from 
one  side,  and  the  men  from  another.  Around  the 
ankles  of  the  women  are  strapped  clusters  of  shells  of 
the  highland  terrapin,  partly  filled  with  pebbles;  these 
shells  are  concealed  by  the  long  dress  skirt,  and  as 
they  dance,  singing  the  long-cadenced  song  of  their 
fathers,  they  make  melodious  music.  A  remarkable 


106     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

feature  in  the  perfection  of  the  dance  is  that  as  the 
women  move  off  not  a  sound  is  heard,  that  bunch 
of  shells  is  as  silent  as  the  tomb;  and  yet  it  would 
be  practically  impossible  for  one  to  move  the  shells 
by  hand  without  causing  them  to  rattle. 

There  is  so  much  that  is  elevating  and  purifying  in 
the  conduct  of  these  people  that  it  would  be  hard  to 
describe  the  scenes,  the  love  and  good  humor  that 
flash  between  the  moments  of  the  times  spent  in  the 
council  at  the  feasts  and  the  dances. 


SLAVERY. 

That  slavery  existed  among  the  present  Seminoles 
has  been  a  disputed  question.  That  it  did  is  known 
to  a  few;  but  any  interference  would  have  been  re 
ceived  as  an  act  of  impertinence  by  the  Indians,  as 
well  as  by  the  slaves  themselves;  as  was  evidenced 
a  few  years  ago  when  a  tourist  meeting  Tuste- 
nuggee's  slave  (who  was  watching  his  master's  canoe 
while  his  master  sold  some  skins)  attempted  to  en 
lighten  the  negro  on  his  true  condition.  As  the  chief 
came  back  to  the  canoe,  the  philanthropist  stranger 
began  to  explain  his  mission.  The  chief,  with  the 
ferocity  which  at  once  stamped  him  as  a  true  Tus- 
tenuggee,  ordered  the  negro  to  "  go,"  which  com 
mand  was  instantly  obeyed.  Then,  turning  to  the 
stranger,  he  said,  u  White  man's  slave  free.  Injun 
este  lusta  (negro)  belong  to  Injun  —  now  you  go." 
The  philanthropist  also  quickly  obeyed. 

Tallahassee's  squaw  died  about  thirty-six  years  ago, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     107 

leaving  a  family  of  six  boys,  the  youngest  one  being 
but  a  small  pickaninny.  These  boys  were  cared  for 
by  the  two  negro  slaves  who  spoke  only  the  Seminole 
language  and  were  perfectly  content  to  do  the 
drudgery  for  the  family.  The  number  of  slaves 
among  the  remnant  left  in  Florida  was  small,  but 
they  were  allied  to  the  Indians  and,  while  treated 
kindly,  they  were  expected  to  obey.  In  the  last  few 
years  they  have  all  died  off  with  the  exception  of  one 
old  slave,  Hannah,  in  the  Tallahassee  band. 


HANNAH,    THE    LAST    LIVING    SLAVE    OF    THE    SEMI 
NOLE    INDIANS. 

A  character  holding  a  position  unparalleled  in 
Uncle  Sam's  domain,  is  Hannah,  the  negro  slave,  be 
longing  to  Tallahassee's  family.  She  is  a  full- 
blooded  negress,  with  thick  lips,  broad  flat  nose  and 
kinky  hair,  which  is  tied  in  little  plaits  with  the 
proverbial  string  of  the  Southern  negro. 

Hannah  is  the  last  vestige  of  Seminole  slavery  — 
the  one  great  subject  of  warfare  seventy-five  years 
ago  between  the  Seminoles  and  the  Southern  plan 
ters,  and  upon  which,  truly  speaking,  was  based  the 
"  Seven  Years'  War."  Hannah  does  the  work  of 
the  family,  and,  though  she  is  kindly  treated,  yet  a 
certain  contempt  is  felt  for  her,  for  Hannah  is  an 
este  lusta  (a  negro)  and  to  the  haughty  Seminole 
a  negro  is  the  lowest  of  human  creatures. 

The  occasion  when  Hannah's  picture  was  kodaked 
is  fresh  in  memory.  All  preparations  were  being 


io8     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

made  for  the  feast,  but  Billy  Ham,  Tallahassee's 
son,  had  not  been  able  to  get  a  deer,  and  so  had  pur 
chased  beef  from  a  market  thirty  miles  away.  With 
pots  and  kettles  in  evidence,  Hannah  was  preparing 
the  beef,  when  the  little  box-like  instrument  was 
gently  rested  on  a  rail  near  by.  Hannah's  eye  de 
tected  the  object  and  she  turned  away,  and  began 
busying  herself  around  the  boiling  kettle  on  the 
ground.  The  camera  was  adjusted,  finger  on  but 
ton  ready  to  snap,  and  a  masked  indifference  affected, 
and  an  animated  conversation  begun  with  one  of  the 
Indians  near  by.  When  Hannah  returned  to  her 
work  about  the  table,  snap !  went  the  button,  and 
Hannah's  ebony  face  and  twisted,  string-tied  locks 
was  photographed  on  the  plate,  and  proud  was  the 
owner  to  possess  so  good  a  likeness  of  Uncle  Sam's 
one  and  only  unfreed  slave. 

UNWRITTEN    LAWS. 

The  government  among  the  Seminoles  is  peculiar, 
it  is  remarkable,  it  is  magnificent.  There  is  no  ly 
ing,  no  stealing,  no  murder  and  yet  apparently  there 
is  no  restraining  law.  The  Seminole  has  many  no 
ble  traits ;  he  is  proverbially  truthful.  Pertinent  was 
the  reply  to  the  hunter  when  he  asked  if  it  was  safe 
to  leave  his  gun  in  the  wigwam.  '  Yes,"  replied  the 
chief,  "  there  is  not  a  white  man  within  fifty  miles  of 
the  place." 

Reverence,  too,  is  one  of  his  distinguishing  fea 
tures.  His  language  contains  no  oath,  nor  any  word 


HANNAH,    THE    ONLY    REMAINING    SLAVE    OF    THE 
SEMINOLES 

In   Tallahassee's  camp   making  sof4<a    for   dinner. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     109 

to  express  disrespect  to  the  Supreme  Being.  A  mis 
sionary  will  receive  most  respectful  attention,  for 
their  reverence  to  God  will  not  permit  them  to  laugh 
at  His  messenger. 

If  the  annals  of  this  heroic  band  were  chronicled, 
they  would  say,  "  They  are  prouder  than  the  proud 
est  Inca,  braver  than  the  boldest  Saxon  knight,  fear 
less  and  unrelenting  as  foes,  devoted  and  unflinching 
in  friendship,  and  the  purity  of  their  morals  without 
a  parallel  in  the  history  of  any  other  race  or  tribe  on 
the  globe." 

Anxiously  and  carefully  have  we  studied  their 
form  of  Government,  knowing  that  they  leave  their 
money,  their  trinkets  and  their  garments  in  the  open 
wigwam.  With  carefullyrframed  questions  we 
asked  of  Billy  Bowlegs,  while  on  his  recent  visit  to 
our  home,  "  Billy,  your  money,  you  leave  it  in  your 
wigwam,  you  go  back,  money  hi-e-pus  (gone),  In 
dians  steal  it,  then  what  you  do?"  He  answered, 
"  Me  don't  know."  "  Yes,  but,  Billy,  white  man 
come  in  my  house,  my  money  steal  'em  —  by-and-by, 
in  jail  me  put  him.  Indian,  all  the  same,  bad  Indian 
steal.  What  does  Indian  do?"  Again  the  answer 
came,  "  Me  don't  know."  Making  the  points 
plainer,  illustrating  by  the  theft  of  his  gun,  his  pro 
visions,  showing  him  that  a  bad  Indian  from  one  of 
the  other  settlements  might  come  in  his  absence  and 
steal  his  Winchester,  with  perfect  understanding  of 
our  meaning,  the  reply  came  as  before,  "  Me  don't 
know,  Indian  no  take  'em  —  Indian  no  steal."  In 
such  a  socialistic  State,  where  there  is  no  crime,  there 


no     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

can  be  no  punishment.  Were  a  crime  to  be  com 
mitted,  a  council  of  chiefs  would  meet  and  decree  a 
punishment,  and  it  would  have  enough  severity  to 
serve  as  a  lesson  for  all  future  miscreants. 

The  only  "  fall  from  grace  "  we  have  ever  known 
among  any  of  the  bands,  extending  over  a  period  of 
twenty  years'  acquaintance,  was  in  the  case  of  Buster 
Flint.  Old  Buster  was  a  large,  powerful  Indian, 
but  as  the  braves  express  it,  he  was  "  ho-lo-wa-gus  " 
(no  good),  "  lazy  too  much,"  and  laid  around  the 
settlement  as  a  regular  loafer,  too  indolent  to  work 
or  hunt;  and  in  consequence  was  ragged  and  un 
kempt.  On  one  occasion,  while  our  tent  was  pitched 
near  the  palmetto  wigwams  and  the  hunters  had 
been  absent  for  the  day,  on  the  return  a  small  red 
napkin  was  found  to  be  missing.  Upon  calling 
Captain  Tom  Tiger's  attention  to  the  fact,  he  re 
plied,  u  Me  know,"  and  very  soon  the  napkin  was 
quietly  returned  to  its  place.  Old  Buster  could  not 
resist  the  bright  red  cloth  and  the  others  knew  his 
weakness.  What  punishment  was  meted  out  to  the 
old  Indian  was  not  learned,  but  certainly  enough  to 
terrify  him  during  the  remainder  of  our  visit. 

The  Seminoles  mean  to  be  honest  in  their  dealings 
with  the  whites.  Occasionally  the  white  man  may 
be  deceived  when  the  Indian  intends  no  wrong.  As 
the  National  Editorial  Excursion  once  made  a  tour 
of  Florida,  the  train  made  a  stop  at  a  little  trad 
ing  post  on  the  east  coast.  Quite  a  joke  was  in 
nocently  played  upon  the  party  by  Captain  Tom 
Tiger.  A  few  Indians  had  come  into  the  village 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     in 

to  trade  at  the  stores.  Captain  Tom  had  brought 
with  him  a  load  of  sour  oranges  which  grow  wild 
in  the  region  of  his  camp.  The  oranges  are  beau 
tiful  to  the  eye,  but  oh,  how  bitter !  The  merry 
editors  saw  the  golden  fruit  and  immediately  of 
fered  to  purchase.  The  chief  was  glad  to  sell,  and 
only  asked  one  cent  apiece  for  the  fruit;  but  the  edi 
tors  would  not  take  advantage  of  the  Indian's  igno 
rance  of  the  price  of  oranges,  so  they  paid  him 
twenty-five  cents  per  dozen  for  them.  At  this  the 
load  of  oranges  was  soon  disposed  of  and  the  chief, 
with  perfect  honesty  of  intention  in  the  transaction, 
was  the  proud  possessor  of  about  twenty-five  dollars. 
Those  of  the  party  who  first  tasted  the  fruit  said 
nothing  until  all  the  oranges  had  been  bought;  then 
they  were  told  to  taste  their  oranges,  and  a  laugh, 
long  and  loud,  went  up  from  one  end  of  the  car  to 
the  other,  and  as  the  train  rolled  away  the  good- 
natured  but  victimized  passengers  treated  Captain 
Tom  Tiger,  chief  of  the  Seminoles,  to  a  shower  of 
sour  oranges.  The  Indian  was  dumbfounded. 
The  wild  orange  is  an  article  of  barter  in  Florida, 
but  not  until  the  idea  dawned  upon  Tom  that  the 
excursionists  had  mistaken  his  fruit  for  the  sweet 
orange  did  he  awaken  from  his  bewilderment,  and 
with  earnest  nods  of  the  head  and  impressive  ges 
tures  he  soliloquized,  "White  man  no  like  Indian's 
orange  —  sour  too  much.  Me  tell  white  man,  one 
orange,  one  cent.  White  man  tell  me  one  orange, 
two  cents.  Indian  no  cheat  white  man." 
-The  Seminoles  look  upon  the  dim  past  as  a  lost 


ii2     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

paradise  in  which  there  was  happiness  and  inno 
cence.  u  Before  the  white  man  came  we  were  men," 
says  the  Indian.  Their  faith  in  their  forefathers  is 
reverential.  They  believe  they  always  did  what  was 
right.  They  were  kind  and  true  to  their  friends,  but 
terrible  to  their  enemies. 

The  Florida  Indians  are  an  industrious  people. 
While  the  fruits  of  the  chase  are  their  main  sup 
port,  they  cultivate  the  fields,  raising  vegetables,  corn 
and  sugar  cane.  The  men  make  canoes,  which  they 
sell  to  hunters  and  trappers.  Moccasins,  baskets 
and  koonti  starch,  plumes,  smoked  skins  and  venison 
are  among  their  exports.  Complaints  are  sometimes 
heard  that  the  Indians  are  killing  off  the  deer  and 
the  alligator,  which  is  very  true;  but  alike  are  the 
white  men  and  the  negro  engaged  in  the  same  occu 
pation.  Before  the  white  race  taught  the  Indian 
the  monetary  value  of  the  game  of  the  country,  he 
slew  them  only  for  food  and  clothing.  Long  cen 
turies  had  he  lived  on  this  continent,  but  the  herds  of 
buffalo  were  not  lessened;  nor  the  vast  quantities  of 
game  driven  to  the  fastnesses  of  the  forest.  Till 
the  white  trader  came  to  hunt  the  game  as  a  source 
of  revenue  or  for  ruthless  sport,  the  Indian  knew  no 
such  motive. 

Like  his  forefathers,  the  Seminole  is  no  prohi 
bitionist,  but  enjoys  the  fire  water,  as  much  as  did 
the  savage  tribe  that  greeted  the  good  ship,  The 
Half  Moon,  in  the  land-locked  waters  of  Manhat 
tan,  three  hundred  years  ago,  and  drank  the  first 
American  toast  to  the  intrepid  Henry  Hudson. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     113 

Since  that  first  great  tipple  in  New  York  which 
ended  in  such  a  scene  of  intoxication,  causing  the 
Mohicans  to  name  the  island  "  the  place  of  the  big 
drunk,"  the  Indian  practices  more  precaution;  and 
one  of  their  number  always  remains  sober  and 
watches  his  boozy  brother  like  a  hawk.  This  is  the 
practice  of  the  Seminoles.  Before  going  on  a  spree, 
a  selection  is  made  of  one  of  the  band  whose  duty  it 
is  to  stand  guard  over  all  weapons  and  see  that  no 
injury  is  done  to  any  member  of  the  tribe.  The 
"  sprees  "  in  which  they  indulge  are  too  infrequent 
to  warrant  them  being  classed  as  intemperate.  It  is 
opportune  at  this  point  to  say  that  only  under  the 
degrading  influence  of  whiskey,  which  the  white 
civilization  brings  to  him,  does  the  Seminole  ever 
show  any  demoralized  condition,  and  the  proper 
official  should  see  to  the  enforcement  of  the 
laws  against  selling  liquor  to  these  child-like  peo- 
pie. 

Only  a  few  of  the  tribe  talk  broken  English. 
The  chiefs  disapprove  of  it  on  general  principles  — 
for  fear  they  will  talk  too  much.  To  keep  aloof 
from  the  white  man,  and  the  white  man's  ways,  is 
the  training  of  the  Seminole  youth.  Occasionally  a 
few  of  the  tribe  leave  their  marshy  homes.  These 
talk  sufficiently  to  do  their  trading  when  visiting 
towns  to  dispose  of  their  plumes,  deer  skins,  basket 
work,  etc.  These  products  always  find  ready  sale, 
and  when  the  great  day  of  shopping  begins,  a 
"  corner  "  in  red  calico  and  fancy  colored  beads  is 
the  result.  The  squaws  have  control  of  their  own 


ii4     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

money,   when   on   a   purchasing   expedition,   a    fact 
which  makes  them  very  American. 

The  squaws  are  about  as  sociable  as  the  half-wild 
deer  that  are  petted  by  the  guests  of  the  St.  Augus 
tine  hotels.  As  seen  in  their  camps,  clustered  to 
gether,  half-alarmed,  half-curious,  the  side  glances 
from  their  dark-brown  eyes  seem  to  utter  a  protest 
against  the  Government's  eternal  "  move  on."  A 
more  severely  pure-minded  people  are  not  to  be 
found  on  the  globe.  The  women  are  above  re 
proach.  Were  a  white  man  to  insult  a  Seminole 
woman  by  word  or  look  it  would  be  well  for  that 
man  never  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  the  tribe 
again.  The  Seminole  girl  who  would  unwisely  be 
stow  her  affections  would  be  killed  outright  by  the 
squaws.  In  the  history  of  the  Everglade  Indians 
only  one  such  case  is  known  and  at  the  birth  of  the 
half-breed  child  the  mother  was  taken  to  the  woods 
and  there  hung  to  a  tree  by  the  indignant  squaws. 
The  infant  was  also  destroyed.  In  questioning,  as 
to  which  of  the  squaws  did  the  killing,  the  answer 
was  "  All,  every  squaw."  On  the  principle  of  Amer 
ican  lynch  law  each  hand  helped  pull  the  rope. 

GENS   AND   MARRIAGE. 

The  Seminoles,  like  other  Indian  tribes,  are  classi 
fied  by  gens.  This  lineage  in  the  Florida  tribe  is 
traced  through  the  mother.  The  child  belongs  to 
the  clan  which  the  mother  represents.  The  mother 
exercises  absolute  ownership,  and  should  a  squaw  and 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     115 

her  husband  separate  for  any  cause,  the  children  be 
long  unconditionally  to  the  wife. 

Modesty,  as  the  great  ornament  of  women,  is 
taught  to  the  girls,  and  as  she  is  about  to  enter  into 
life  there  is  a  moral  sublimity  in  the  counsel  that 
teaches  her  to  hold  an  implicit  reverence  for  her  hus 
band,  but  at  the  same  time  she  becomes  a  teacher  and 
custodian  of  her  children.  One  young  Indian  of  our 
acquaintance  is  divorced  from  his  squaw.  They 
have  one  pickaninny  now,  three  years  old.  Asking 
the  father  to  give  the  boy  up,  and  holding  out  allur 
ing  inducements,  he  replied,  " Munks-chay  (no), 
squaw's  pickaninny."  The  gens  represented  in  the 
Seminole  tribe  to-day  are  the  Otter,  the  Tiger,  the 
Deer,  the  Wind,  the  Bird,  the  Snake,  the  Bear,  and 
the  Wolf.  Other  gens  are  now  extinct  in  Florida. 
Thus,  in  asking  about  the  Alligator  tribe,  the  chief 
replied,  "  All  gone  —  long  time  ago  —  to  Indian 
Territory."  A  young  brave  dare  not  marry  a  girl 
from  his  own  gens,  he  must  select  her  from  another 
clan.  When  asking  a  chief  what  he  would  do  were 
he  to  want  a  girl  from  his  own  gens  for  a  wife,  and 
the  girl  should  want  to  marry  him,  he  replied,  "  Me 
no  m^rry  her."  The  young  Indian  is  shy  and  bash 
ful  in  his  courtships,  and  having  resolved  to  marry, 
conceals  his  first  overtures  with  all  the  Indian  cun 
ning.  His  intention  is  secretly  conveyed  to  the  girl's 
parents,  and  should  there  be  no  objection  the  young 
woman  is  at  liberty  to  accept  or  reject.  No  Semi 
nole  girl  is  forced  into  a  marriage.  The  lover,  with 
permission  to  woo,  shows  some  token  of  affection;  a 


n6     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

deer  is  killed,  and  laid  at  the  door  of  the  wigwam. 
If  the  present  is  received  the  lover  is  happy.  If  it 
remains  untouched,  he  may  do  as  his  white  brother 
does,  go  hang  himself,  or,  as  is  usual,  go  seek  a  more 
willing  fair  one.  The  prospective  bride,  to  show 
her  appreciation  of  her  lover,  makes  a  shirt  and  pre 
sents  it  to  him.  No  pomp  or  ceremony  is  connected 
with  the  marriage.  The  day  is  set  by  the  parents, 
the  groom  goes  to  the  birde's  house,  at  the  setting  of 
the  sun.  He  is  now  her  husband,  and  at  her  home, 
he  lives  for  a  period.  When  the  young  couple  build 
their  own  wigwam,  they  may  build  it  at  the  camp  of 
the  wife's  mother,  but  not  among  the  husband's 
relatives. 


BEAUTY   AND    MUSIC. 

The  Indian  has  a  high  sense  of  beauty  in  woman, 
and  has  been  demonstrated  on  several  occasions  dur 
ing  their  visits  to  the  different  towns.  A  Seminole 
chief  was  taken  to  the  parlor  of  a  hotel,  where  a  new 
piano  was  the  exciting  theme,  to  see  what  effect  the 
music  would  have  upon  his  savage  mind.  But  the 
fair-hjaired  performer  absorbed  his  attention,  and 
with  a  shrug  which  showed  his  appreciation  for 
beauty  more  than  for  music,  he  said,  uUgh!  white 
man's  squaw  heap  purty !  " 

Music  is  not  a  genius  with  the  Seminoles.  True, 
they  have  some  songs  which  are  monotone  and 
rhythmical.  They  are  the  hunter's  songs,  the  camp 
songs  and  the  lullabys.  The  war  songs  which  sent 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     117 

such  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the  white  settlers  in  Sem- 
inole  war  days  they  seem  to  have  forgotten.  Some 
of  the  Indians  have  natural  musical  ears,  and  they 
are  recognized  by  their  people  as  musical  leaders. 
They  have  no  standard  pitch,  but  start  their  songs 
where  the  natural  quality  of  the  voice  renders  it  eas 
iest  to  sing.  The  pitch  of  the  song  depends  upon 
the  individual. 

An  incident,  full  of  pathos,  yet  illustrating  one  of 
life's  parodies,  is  recalled.  It  was  occasioned  by 
hearing  the  music  of  some  old  familiar  tunes  played 
in  a  gruesome  Everglade  home.  As  the  picture  re 
curs,  one  sees  a  savage  tribe  —  a  weird  camp  scene, 
with  its  storm-beaten  wigwams  in  the  background  — 
and  dusky  warriors  and  squaws  moving  hither  and 
thither  in  the  dim  shadows  of  the  camp  fire.  In  the 
center  of  the  group  sat  the  musician,  who  was  the 
happy  possessor  of  a  "  box  of  music,"  an  organette, 
which  he  had  recently  purchased.  The  melodies  of 
44  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  "Hail  Columbia,"  and 
"  Nearer  My  God  To  Thee,"  floated  out  upon  the 
stillness  of  the  night,  telling  the  story  of  the  white 
man's  inheritance  —  happy  homes,  a  free  Govern 
ment  and  an  ennobling  religion.  To  the  Seminole 
the  tuneful  strains  contained  no  more  sentiment  than 
the  murmur  of  the  brook:  for  they  are  a  people 
without  a  home,  without  a  country,  and  without  a 
God  in  the  sense  of  these  songs. 


ii8     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 


RELATIONSHIP    TO    THE    AZTECS    AND 
EASTERN   TRIBES 

"  YAH-VEY,  YAH-VEY  " 

TO-DAY,  the  antiquarian  may  lay  aside  his  musty 
parchments  of  antiquity  and  in  the  heart  of  the  Big 
Everglades  study  the  history  of  an  ancient  people 
through  living  authors. 

"  Jah-vey  —  Jah-vey  —  Yehovah  —  Yehovah!  " 
Monotone,  yet  rhythmical,  the  brown-faced  singers 
chanted  the  hymn.  Over  and  over  again  were  the 
words  repeated  by  the  Seminole  choir,  till  the  word 
"Jah-vey"  mystical  with  the  centuries  past,  dwelt 
with  the  listener.  None  but  a  Hebrew  scholar 
would  have  caught  the  word  with  an  understanding 
of  its  meaning.  The  occasion  was  a  Fourth  of  July 
celebration  when  the  Rt.  Rev.  Wm.  Crane  Gray 
was  visiting  the  Seminole  Mission  at  Im-mo-ka-lee, 
situated  near  the  western  border  of  the  Florida  Ever 
glades. 

The  Indians,  full  of  confidence  and  kindly  feeling, 
had  consented  to  sign  and  here  appeared  the  wonder 
ful,  yes,  startling,  observation  made  by  Bishop  Gray. 
"  Jah-vey  "  is  the  Hebrew  word  meaning  Jehovah, 
a  word  held  in  such  awe  by  the  children  of  Israel, 
and  as  claimed  by  scholars,  too  sacred  to  pass  the  lips 
of  man,  that  even  its  correct  pronunciation  is  un 
known. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     119 

To-day  in  the  weird  fastnesses  of  the  Everglades, 
a  band  of  wild  Indians  chant  the  name  of  the  Great 
Jehovah  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  a  name  that  is 
meaningless  in  its  original  form  to  thousands  of 
educated  Americans. 

When  questioned  by  Bishop  Gray  as  to  the  mean 
ing  of  the  sacred  word,  the  Indian  answered,  "  God, 
white  man's  God."  The  question  now  appeals  to 
the  scientist,  to  the  antiquarian,  and  to  the  theo 
logian.  From  whence  came  the  Seminole's  knowl 
edge  of  the  word? 

From  its  use  in  the  depth  of  the  Everglades,  one 
may  work  back  to  the  prehistoric  ruined  temples  of 
Mexico  and  Yucatan,  so  similar  to  those  of  Egypt; 
and  thus  may  find  in  Seminole  speech  a  language  link 
to  connect  the  new  world  with  the  old. 

Is  this  single  word  as  verified  by  Bishop  Gray  the 
keynote  to  the  history  and  origin  of  the  North 
American  Indian? 

With  a  close  study  of  the  Seminoles  of  Florida, 
one  finds  a  subject  mystical  with  the  history  of  cen 
turies  past.  We  meet  in  this  old-turbaned  tribe  a 
history  vague,  'tis  true,  but  as  interesting  as  the  data 
gleaned  from  the  hieroglyphics  of  Mexico,  or  Egypt, 
and  why  not? 

While  the  archaeologist  delves  among  the  ruins  of 
ancient  Egypt,  and  as  he  disturbs  the  inanimate 
forms  of  the  old  Pharoahs,  let  him  pause  and  like 
Diogenes  of  old,  shine  his  lantern  in  scientific  re 
search  for  the  American  Rameses.  Tracing  the 
proud  and  invincible  Florida  Seminole  through  all 


120     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

his  wanderings,  from  the  plains  of  Mexico,  we  meet 
him  to-day  in  the  confines  of  the  mysterious  and 
weird  Everglades. 

Reaching  Florida  in  1750,  under  the  name  Semi- 
nole  or  Wanderers,  his  history  verges  into  a  singu 
larly  distressing  drama  and  forms  a  tragical  chapter 
in  American  history. 

Tracing  their  lineage,  as  we  may,  to  the  Aztecs  of 
Mexico,  the  student  must  find  in  their  usages  and 
customs  links  that  connect  their  present  history  with 
that  of  the  ancient  tribes. 

In  this  remnant,  proud  as  the  old  Montezumas, 
may  the  scientist  and  antiquarian  find  a  history 
teeming  with  interest,  while  the  novelist  may  revel  in 
story,  both  real  and  legendary  —  the  most  romantic 
of  Indian  life  that  has  ever  been  written. 

If  we  accept  the  Le  Plongeon  theory  of  prehis 
toric  Mexico,  as  well  as  Professors  Holmes  and 
Seville's  research  of  Mexican  antiquities,  we  must 
note  the  relationship  between  the  early  Central 
American  civilization  and  the  Ancient  Egyptians; 
and  that  the  builders  of  the  pyramids  and  temples  of 
Mexico  and  Yucatan  were  closely  allied  with  the 
architects  of  the  Cheops. 

After  the  conquest  of  Mexico  by  Cortez  in  1519- 
20,  the  Muskogee  Indians  left  Mexico  and  gradually 
traversed  the  country  till  in  1620  we  find  them  in 
Alabama,  where  they  added  other  bands  to  their 
ranks.  The  British  name  them  Creeks,  from  the 
many  small  streams  that  traversed  the  country. 

Thus  the  great  Muskogee  tribe  of  the  Mexican 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     121 

Empire  vanquished  by  Cortez  became  one  hundred 
years  later  the  Creek  Confederacy,  from  which 
branched  the  Seminoles. 

It  will  take  no  great  stretch  of  fancy  to  suppose 
that  before  the  mysterious  chain  of  migration  the 
Aztecs  and  the  early  Egyptians  were  allied.  As  we 
study,  to-day,  the  frail  remnants  of  the  vanishing 
Aborigines  in  the  heart  of  the  Everglades,  may  we 
not  find  a  coincidence  of  usages  that  at  least  give 
abundant  food  for  speculation,  and  the  resemblance 
of  the  present  Seminole  to  the  ancient  Egyptian 
suggests  strong  points  of  similitude  to  that  of  the  old 
Israelites,  and  a  common  origin  for  the  North  Amer 
ican  Indian  and  the  older  tribes,  whose  magnificent 
wrecks  strew  the  borders  of  the  Nile  ? 

Prescott  in  his  history  of  Mexico  refers  to  some 
traditions  of  the  Aztecs,  as  bearing  a  singular  re 
semblance  to  those  ^  found  in  the  Scriptures.  More 
or  less  does  one  start  with  surprise  and  awe  as  he 
notes  in  the  Indians  of  Florida  a  strict  observance  of 
those  customs  as  well  as  religious  beliefs  as  laid  down 
in  the  book  Leviticus. 

The  similarity  existing  between  the  ancient  Egyp 
tian  principles  and  that  of  the  Aztecs  is  conceded  by 
scholars,  and  when  the  Florida  Indian  follows  so 
closely  these  old  religious  rites,  with  the  theory  that 
the  Florida  Seminoles  are  traceable  to  the  mighty 
Aztecs,  may  we  not  feel  a  pride  in  these  red  children 
of  the  forest  homes  and  while  it  is  yet  possible  pre 
serve  this  almost  forgotten  remnant? 

To-day  the  student  may  study,  in  the  swamp  fast- 


122     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

nesses,  the  history  of  an  ancient  race,  through  the 
present-day  Seminole. 

Around  the  hereditary  chief  Tallahassee  is  the 
authority  for  the  government  of  the  Cow  Creek 
band.  He  is  the  honored  chieftain,  whose  duty  it 
has  been  to  teach  to  the  younger  generations  the 
traditions  of  his  ancestors.  "  My  grandfather,  old, 
old  man,  tell  me,  me  tell  my  boys."  The  stories 
never  diverge  —  the  same  to-day  that  were  told  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  and  different  slightly 
from  the  teachings  of  the  vanquished  Muskogeeans 
of  the  Mexican  Empire. 

In  their  weird  camps,  by  a  glimmering  light  from 
the  camp  fire,  is  instilled  into  the  youth  the  laws  of 
the  old  turbaned  tribe,  laws  startling  in  the  rites 
they  contain.  A  brief  reference  to  a  few  of  these 
observances  must  convince  that  there  is  at  least  a  key 
note  for  a  chapter  that  must  prove  both  interesting 
and  valuable  to  science. 

In  the  head  dress  of  the  Florida  Indians,  oriental 
in  its  effect,  one  quickly  recognizes  a  perfect  imita 
tion  of  that  as  worn  in  1800  B.  C.,  as  shown  in  the 
statue  from  Tel  Loh  (showing  early  Akkadian 
type). 

Passing  through  the  realms  of  history,  covering  a 
period  of  3,000  years,  in  1563  we  find  Le  Moyne's 
delineations  of  the  turban,  now  worn  by  the  Semi 
nole  chieftains.  Likewise  might  the  dress  of  old 
Tallahassee  in  his  chieftain  regalia  be  mistaken  for 
the  costume  of  the  patriarchs  in  the  days  of  the 
Pharaohs,  when  the  long  tunic  embraced  by  the 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     123 

brightly  embroidered  sash,  with  its  heavily-tasseled 
belt,  made  a  picturesque  attire. 

Not  the  least  startling,  after  thirty-four  centuries, 
do  we  find  the  Seminole  observing  the  rigid  laws  of 
health  as  laid  down  to  the  Children  of  Israel  after 
the  Exodus.  With  reference  to  the  preservation  of 
health,  we  find  in  the  Scriptures,  that  those  affected 
by  disease  were  separated  from  the  tribe  and  as 
health  returned,  we  read,  Leviticus  15:  13,  "Then 
shall  he  number  himself  seven  days  for  his  cleansing 
and  wash  his  clothes  and  bathe  his  flesh  in  running 
water  and  be  clean."  Verse  7,  "  And  whosoever 
toucheth  the  flesh  of  him  shall  wash  his  clothes  and 
be  unclean  until  the  evening."  Note  the  following: 
On  a  recent  visit  to  the  Seminole  camps,  and  after 
receiving  a  warm  welcome  from  the  squaws  and 
pickaninnies  of  former  acquaintances,  a  solitary 
figure  was  observed  sitting  in  a  small  detached  wig 
wam.  Approaching  for  the  purpose  of  shaking 
hands,  from  all  sides  came  gesticulations  and  dis 
senting  tones  from  the  squaws,  and  feeling  that  the 
woman  was  a  prisoner  or  taking  some  kind  of  punish 
ment,  we  passed  on.  During  a  visit  of  three  days 
at  the  camps,  the  squaw  was  kept  aloof  from  the 
band,  receiving  all  necessary  attention  with  the  kind 
liest  spirit,  but  fulfilling  the  law  of  Moses,  as  re 
corded  in  Leviticus,  "  And  she  shall  be  apart  seven 
days  and  whosoever  toucheth  her  shall  be  unclean." 

The  Aztecs  made  crimes  against  society  capital; 
among  their  registered  laws,  adultery  was  punish- 


124     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

able,  as  with  the  Jews,  by  death.  The  same  laws 
hold  good  among  the  Seminoles  to-day. 

Marriage  laws  are  held  sacred,  but  divorces  are 
permitted  where  some  incompatibility  of  temper  is 
found.  This  is  done  after  the  manner  of  the  old 
Jews  — "  out  of  mercy  to  the  woman."  Either 
party  may  marry  again,  but  the  marriage  must  meet 
with  the  approval  of  the  leaders  of  the  band. 

Taking  up  the  question  of  land  tenure,  one  sees 
the  similarity  between  the  Everglade  Indians  and 
that  of  the  ancient  tribes. 

There  tribal  organization  being  a  socialistic  and 
communistic  order,  it  is  not  their  policy  to  encourage 
individual  land  holdings. 

Socialism  finds  its  greatest  example  among  the 
Seminoles  and  they  realize  freedom  in  a  greater  de 
gree  than  can  possibly  be  found  in  any  community 
governed  by  man-made  laws.  They  do  not  violate 
any  teachings  of  the  tribe  and  are  honorable  and  up 
right  in  their  dealings  with  one  another  and  equally 
so  with  the  white  people  with  whom  they  come  in 
contact.  Their  law  allows  of  individual  occupancy 
of  land  and  the  individual  rights  are  respected,  but 
the  Indian  is  not  allowed  to  acquire  title. 

The  Seminole,  like  his  Aztec  ancestors,  shows  an 
honorable  contrast  to  the  other  tribes  of  North 
America,  in  the  treatment  of  the  women.  No 
severe  agricultural  labor  is  imposed  upon  them 
and  the  consideration  shown  them  by  the  men 
would  do  credit  to  a  high  civilization.  Those 
who  know  some  of  the  habits  of  the  Florida  Indians 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     125 

(Seminoles)  are  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  they  will 
not  eat  the  green  corn  until  the  second  day  of  the 
annual  feast. 

On  a  visit  to  the  camps,  old  chief  Tallahassee 
was  invited  to  join  his  white  friends  at  dinner,  and 
as  he  was  offered  a  roasting  ear,  he  said,  "  Me  not 
eat  green  corn,  Shot-kay-taw  (Green  Corn  Dance) 
eat  plenty."  Pointing  to  a  small  patch  of  corn  from 
which  the  ears  had  been  stripped,  he  said,  "  Squaws 
eat  corn  plenty,  men  no  eat,"  and  as  we  read  Leviti 
cus,  23:  14,  the  thought  comes:  Is  the  law,  though 
divested  of  part  of  its  meaning,  being  fulfilled  to-day 
by  a  band  of  wild  Indians? 

"  And  ye  shall  eat  neither  bread,  nor  parched 
corn,  nor  green  ears,  until  the  self-same  day  ye 
brought  an  offering  to  the  Lord." 

Another  link  is  a  feast  day  which  seems  to  corre 
spond  in  its  rites  to  the  Day  of  Atonement  on  old 
Jewish  days.  It  is  of  peculiarly  solemn  character 
and  takes  place  in  cycles.  The  sacredness  attached 
to  the  assembling  of  the  band  prevents  little  insight 
from  the  outside  world. 

With  only  an  oral  tradition,  with  their  unwritten 
but  priceless  history  of  an  ancient  race,  with  the 
white  man  daily  encroaching  on  their  last  domain, 
the  time  for  studying  this  primitive  people  in  their 
purity  will  soon  be  over,  and  of  their  customs  and 
usages,  where  is  the  CEdipus  at  this  day  who  shall 
solve  the  riddle  of  their  origin? 


126     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 


SEMINOLES  AT  HOME 

THE  EVERGLADES 

THE  characteristic  of  the  Seminole  is  to  make  his 
camp  in  some  secluded  spot  where  the  white  man 
would  least  expect  to  find  his  habitation. 

The  peculiar  physical  formation  of  Florida  makes 
this  very  possible.  The  Everglade  region,  which  is 
the  immediate  environment  of  the  Seminoles,  is  a 
watery  prairie,  with  here  and  there  high  points  of 
ground,  and  because  land-grabbers,  corporations  and 
state  officials  are  already  clamoring  for  these  watery 
wastes,  and  selling  thousands  of  acres  from  paper 
plats,  with  the  land  still  under  water,  a  more  detailed 
description  of  the  Everglade  region  would  be  better 
appreciated.  This  vast  region  contains  about  4,000 
square  miles  of  marsh  lands  and  tropical  forests,  in 
terlaced  with  thick  clustering  vines  and  is  the  great 
est  area  of  unexplored  country  in  the  United  States. 

The  accounts  of  the  interior  of  the  mysterious 
swamp  is  to  be  found  only  in  dim  tradition  or  In 
dian  legends. 

However  fast  the  door  of  the  swamp  may  be 
locked,  it  opens  quickly  enough  to  whomsoever  car 
ries  the  key.  The  Seminole  is  the  true  key-bearer 
and  with  moccasined  foot  he  enters  when  and  where 
he  will. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      127 

A  writer,  in  a  Miami  paper,  gives  the  following 
interesting  account  of  his  approach  to  the  Indian 
camps : 

u  Traveling  through  this  aquatic  jungle  in  a  light 
canoe,  the  motive  power  of  which  is  plenty  of  mus 
cle,  a  broad-blade  paddle  and  a  push  pole  about 
eighteen  feet  long,  we  enter  a  trackless  waste  of  saw 
grass  and  water,  with  scattering  islands  and  lagoons, 
channels  running  in  all  directions.  These  channels 
often  terminate  in  what  is  called  a  pocket  and  then 
trouble  begins,  as  these  pockets  are  so  shallow  that 
a  canoe  or  skiff  has  to  be  pulled  by  rope  or  pushed 
by  hand  through  the  mud  and  grass,  until  deep  water 
is  found.  All  signs  fail  in  the  Everglades,  as  often 
to  go  north  you  will  take  the  other  three  points  of 
the  compass. 

"  There  is  nothing  quite  so  aggravating,"  con 
tinues  the  writer,  "  as  to  get  sewed  up  in  one  of 
these  pockets,  in  the  open  saw  grass  with  deep  water 
in  plain  view  and  fine  shady  trees  to  welcome  you, 
but  tired  and  disgusted  you  stand  as  high  as  possible 
in  the  canoe  and  see  only  one  chance  in  a  hundred  to 
find  the  right  channel  to  go  through. 

u  There  is  no  use  for  a  compass,  and  it  is  a  waste 
of  time  to  think  about  it.  There  is  a  sure  thing  of 
going  overboard  in  the  mud  or  going  back  and  start 
ing  over  again. 

u  When  the  water  is  high  the  trouble  is  not  so 
great,  but  when  it  is  low,  the  traveler  can  lay  aside 
his  Bible,  quote  a  chapter  from  Dante's  Inferno,  and 
plough  through  the  mud  until  his  energy  is  exhausted 


128     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

and  wonder  if  Dante  ever  heard  tell  of  the  Ever 
glades." 

The  channels  running  through  these  Glades  are 
alive  with  fish,  while  the  saw  grass  ponds  provide 
homes  for  thousands  of  alligators.  The  myrtle  and 
cypress  clumps  are  the  winter  homes  of  the  heron  and 
migratory  birds. 

From  this  vast  morass,  with  an  elevated  position, 
and  a  rare  atmosphere,  the  view  that  would  meet  the 
eye  would  differ  from  any  other  on  the  globe.  Bal- 
lou  says:  UA  thousand  square  miles  of  saw  grass 
would  be  seen  spreading  out  in  the  shape  of  an 
artist's  palette.  Towards  the  end  would  be  seen  a 
series  of  little  inland  lakes,  fed  by  minute  rivers. 
Interblending  with  the  lakes,  thousands  of  islands 
would  be  visible,  far  beyond  the  saw-grass  sea. 
The  flutter  of  bird  life  would  be  like  the  milky  way, 
and  the  swarm  of  insects  like  a  distant  sand  storm  on 
the  Sahara." 

Bordering  the  sedgy  lagoons,  are  dense  cypress 
forests,  with  here  and  there  cabbage  palms,  Indian 
rubber  and  mangroves,  while  tangled  vegetation 
weaves  itself  in  chaotic  style  over  underbrush  and 
tree.  These  are  the  primeval  woods  of  the  United 
States.  To  be  lost  in  these  great  marshes  means 
more  than  death.  They  are  the  paradise  of  the 
serpent  and  the  alligator.  It  is  said  in  old  slavery 
days,  slaves  who  ran  away  to  the  swamps,  were  en 
tered  on  the  books  as  dead. 

Except  the   few  points  touched  upon  by  adven- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     129 

turous  botanists  and  hunters,  this  entire  region  has 
remained  terra  incognita  until  within  the  past  two  or 
three  years,  when  the  subject  of  drainage  has  caused 
deeper  and  more  scientific  investigation.  These 
explorers  have  brought  interesting  accounts  of  the 
great  swamp. 

The  subject  of  drainage  of  this  vast  aquatic  jungle 
is  causing  many  disputes  and  many  opinions,  but 
under  the  Legislature  of  1907,  with  the  imperturbable 
Governor  Broward  in  power,  the  work  of  drainage 
was  begun. 

Those  engaged  in  the  reclamation  of  this  rich  soil 
look  upon  the  enterprise  as  being  one  of  the  most 
colossal  of  American  ingenuity  and  one  that  will 
made  the  Okeechobee  region  the  Egypt  of  America. 
While  it  is  not  the  object  of  the  writer  to  enter  into 
the  question  of  reclamation  —  still,  the  thought 
comes,  "  Is  it  worth  while  to  make  this  region  fit  for 
habitation?  " 

The  Florida  Everglades  Land  Company  who  are 
carrying  on  the  work  of  drainage  on  scientific  rules, 
in  the  employment  of  government  experts  and  fol 
lowing  natural  laws,  show  in  their  practicable  demon 
strations,  the  great  benefit  the  redemption  of  sub 
merged  Florida  will  be,  not  only  to  the  South,  but  to 
the  whole  country. 

Prof.  H.  W.  Wiley,  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Chem 
istry,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  says  of  this 
great  State  question  of  drainage:  "There  is  possi 
bly  no  other  body  of  land  in  the  world,  which  pre- 


130     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

sents  such  remarkable  possibilities  of  development, 
and  with  a  depth  of  soil  averaging  perhaps  eight 
feet,  it  reaches  beyond  the  limits  of  prophecy." 

Then,  when  enterprise  and  capital  enter  the  last 
home  of  the  Seminole,  converting  the  tropical  swamp 
into  golden  Everglades,  may  we  not  pause  to  ask, 
"  Is  there  not  room  enough  for  this  remnant  of  a 
helpless  people  in  the  country  to  which  they  have 
been  driven/' 

Here  in  the  heart  of  the  Okeechobee  country,  we 
find  the  only  remnant  of  our  native  American  Indian, 
in  his  original  simplicity,  meeting  in  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  ancestors  the  mighty  power  of  Cap 
ital,  Industry  and  the  Twentieth  Century  methods  of 
progress.  Shall  we  wrest  from  him  every  vestige  of 
this  last  foothold  in  Florida,  his  last  resting-place  in 
his  direst  necessity? 

The  ultimate  end  of  the  Seminole  should  be,  to  be 
civilized  and  Christianized  and  assimilated  into  the 
present  status  of  the  American  citizen.  While  to 
day  reclamation  looks  a  calamity  to  the  interests  of 
the  Florida  Seminole,  it  is  possible  under  the  direc 
tion  of  an  overruling  Providence  to  be  made  an 
almoner  of  benefit.  There  is  at  this  time  plenty  of 
land  for  both  interests.  It  becomes  the  duty  of  the 
United  States  Government  through  its  Indian  De 
partment  and  the  friends  of  the  dependent  Seminole, 
to  see  to  it  that  land  sufficient  for  their  use  be  left  in 
the  Okeechobee  country,  with  Uncle  Sam's  sign 
board  reading,  "  Penalty  to  Tresspassers." 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     131 

Let  us,  as  a  great  American  jury,  pause  in  our  mad 
scramble  for  dollars,  and  consider  our  brother  in  red. 
As  we  plead  for  these  relics  of  the  warriors  of  old, 
we  ask,  u  Why  molest  them?  They  are  brave,  self- 
supporting  and  piteously  plead  to  be  let  alone." 

Over  seventy-five  years  ago  an  officer  of  the 
Fourth  Artillery  wrote  in  a  Charleston  paper,  "  Can 
any  Christian  in  the  Republic  pray  for  the  continu 
ance  of  blessings,  when  he  is  about  to  wrest  from  the 
unhappy  Seminole  all  that  the  Great  Spirit  ever  con 
ferred  upon  him?  " 

On  the  larger  islands  of  this  tropical  swamp  are 
found  the  fertile  hommocks,  the  home  of  the  Semi 
nole  Indians.  Approaching  such  a  home  one  sees 
marks  of  labor;  a  clearing  is  made,  the  wigwams 
built,  sugar  cane,  sweet  potates  and  squash  are  grow 
ing.  Chickens  and  pigs  run  about  and  an  air  of 
contentment  pervades  all. 

A  visit  to  these  Indians  is  still  fresh  to  memory. 
After  an  arduous  journey,  the  village  is  reached.  It 
was  the  occasion  of  the  Green  Corn  Dance  and  prep 
arations  were  going  on.  The  hunters  were  out  for 
game,  the  corn  was  ripening  and  an  air  of  festivity 
was  all  around. 

Dogs  barked  as  the  white  guests  approached,  but 
a  commanding  Seminole  reprimand  soon  drove  them 
away;  pickaninnies  came  around  with  timid  ad 
vances,  squaws  greeted  with  handshaking.  A  wig 
wam  was  built  for  us  by  the  hospitable  hands,  and 
the  visitors  were  assigned  to  this  part  of  the  camp. 


132     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

What  a  world  of  interest,  both  romantic  and 
tragic,  hangs  around  the  wigwams  of  a  Seminole 
family ! 

To  Tallahassee  was  assigned  the  greatest  part  of 
the  entertaining,  and  he  it  was  who  directed  the 
movements  that  would  add  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
guests. 

Without  giving  thought  to  it,  the  team  was 
hitched  to  a  pole  that  stood  in  the  open.  It  proved 
to  be  the  festal  pole  for  the  dance,  and  the  spot  was 
sacred  for  that  occasion,  but  the  innate  courtesy  of 
the  old  chief  prevented  his  showing  any  offense, 
and  in  the  morning  he  waved  his  hand  in  the  direction 
of  the  horses  and  asked,  u  Horses,  you  want  'em 
there?  "  Learning  what  the  pole  was  for,  we  were 
the  ones  to  beg  pardon  and  feel  chagrin.  Then 
came  the  attention  to  the  guests,  in  showing  around 
the  little  fields,  telling  the  names  and  kinship  of  the 
various  members  as  they  came  into  camp.  This  de 
volved  on  Tallahassee,  and  the  honor  was  two-fold. 

As  the  shadows  fell  and  the  camp  fire  flickered, 
the  old  chief  regaled  the  company  with  history  dat 
ing  back  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  The  old 
patriarch  and  warrior  rambled  on  in  low  monotone, 
living  over  in  dreamy  reminiscence  his  hunting  days, 
and  with  the  record  of  seventy  bear,  to  say  nothing 
of  panther,  deer  'coon,  possum  and  turkey.  How 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  twentieth  century  hunter  was 
put  on  fire. 

As  the  old  chief  drew  closer  his  tunic,  we  asked, 
"Tallahassee,  last  winter,  cold  much;  Kissimmee 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     133 

City,  ice  come ;  what  you  do  ? "  A  young  brave 
spoke  up,  "  Tallahassee  old,  get  cold  heap,  blankets 
put  on  him  and  big  log  fire  make."  Then  came  the 
jokes  as  told  by  one  member  on  another  and  how 
these  children  of  the  forest  would  laugh  as  the  tales 
were  recounted.  They  are  children  only  in  mind,  but 
full  of  discernment  and  strong  in  character. 

A  present  of  a  picture  containing  Tallahassee's 
picture  had  been  sent  to  the  old  chief  a  year  before, 
and  this  must  now  be  brought  out  to  show  the  vis 
itors.  Spelling  and  copybooks  were  the  occasion  of 
much  comment  and  much  praise  from  the  white 
friends.  The  older  Indians  say,  "  Me  no  write  — 
old  too  much.  Little  Tiger  make  letters  by-and-by; 
write  good  —  keep  store. " 

The  utensils  that  hang  around  the  wigwam  would 
do  credit  to  many  a  white  family;  they  have  buckets 
and  pans  of  agate  ware,  and  well  made  wagons  pur 
chased  in  Jacksonville. 

The  hum  of  the  sewing  machine  was  heard  in 
the  wigwams,  being  used  equally  well  by  both  men 
and  women. 

While  the  patient  Seminole  is  at  the  mercy  of  the 
white  man,  and  each  day  becoming  more  helpless, 
he  is  still  proud  as  the  old  race. 

A  purse  of  ten  dollars  had  been  made  up  for  one 
family  where  the  husband  had  died,  but  with  the 
suspicion  that  the  money  was  from  the  Government, 
the  older  members  held  a  talk  with  the  result: 
"  Money  no  take  'em.  Squaw  no  want  'em."  With 
mouth-watering  glances  the  little  ones  on  the  same 


134     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

occasion  refused  candy  and  cakes;  they  had  been 
forbidden  to  accept  what  the  old  Indians  believed 
was  from  Washington  —  the  home  of  the  Big 
White  Chief.  (This  was  at  the  time  the  Indians 
had  been  alarmed  by  cowboys  telling  them  the  Gov 
ernment  wanted  them  for  Arkansas.) 

To-day  in  the  forest  home  of  the  Seminoles,  where 
yet  gleams  the  council  fires,  and  within  a  mile  of  the 
palmetto  thatched  camp  of  the  Osceolas,  the  big 
dredges  groan  an  accompaniment,  as  it  were,  to  the 
echo  of  the  throbbing  hearts,  the  death  song,  the 
Recessional,  of  the  Seminole. 

Dynamite  blasts  shake  the  very  pans  and  kettles 
hanging  around  the  wigwams  and,  while  this  mon 
ster  of  a  machine  destroys  the  only  home  of  the  tribe, 
is  the  time  not  ripe  for  decisive  action  in  the  protec 
tion  of  these  wards  of  Florida? 

A  visit  to  the  Seminoles'  camp  reveals  many  inter 
esting  little  things  which  touch  the  heart  and  evoke 
the  sympathy  of  the  observer.  The  affection  dis 
played  by  the  stern-faced  father,  when  coddling  his 
pappoose,  convinces  the  most  skeptical  that  in  the 
fastnesses  of  the  forest  "  The  heart  of  man  answers 
to  heart  as  face  to  face  in  water,"  whatever  the 
skin  it  is  under.  Old  Tom  Tiger,  without  question 
one  of  the  most  ferocious-looking  of  the  Seminoles, 
would  take  the  baby-boy  from  its  tired  mother's  arms 
and  softly  croon  a  lullaby,  swaying  the  pappoose 
backwards  and  forwards  in  his  great  strong  arms 
till  the  little  fellow  would  fall  asleep. 

Another  instance  of  parental  affection,  as  given  by 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     135 

the  Rev.  Clay  McCauley  in  his  report  on  the  Semi- 
noles  of  Florida  to  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology,  is  full 
of  touching  interest.  While  the  incident  occurred 
many  years  ago,  and  the  little  boy  is  now  grown  to 
manhood,  still  it  cannot  fail  to  reach  the  heart  of  the 
reader.  We  give  it  in  the  writer's  own  words: 

"  Tallahassee's  wife  had  recently  died,  leaving  him  with 
the  care  of  six  boys;  but  the  strong  Indian  had  apparently 
become  mother  and  father  to  his  children.  Especially  did 
he  throw  a  tender  care  about  the  little  one  of  his  household. 
I  have  seen  the  little  fellow  clambering,  just  like  many  a 
little  pale  face,  over  his  father's  knees  persistently  demanding 
attention,  but  in  no  way  disturbing  the  father's  amiability 
or  serenity.  One  night,  as  I  sat  by  the  camp  fire  of  Talla 
hassee's  lodge,  I  heard  muffled  moans  from  the  little  pal 
metto  shelter  on  my  right,  under  which  the  three  smaller 
boys  were  bundled  up  in  cotton  cloth  in  deer  skins  for  the 
night's  sleep.  Upon  the  moans  followed  immediately  the 
frightened  cry  of  the  little  boy,  waking  out  of  bad  dreams, 
and  crying  for  the  mother  who  could  not  answer;  ' Its-Kif 
Its-Kif  (mother,  mother)  begged  the  little  fellow,  strug 
gling  from  under  his  covering.  At  once  the  big  Indian 
grasped  his  child,  hugged  him  to  his  breast,  pressed  the 
little  head  to  his  cheek,  consoling  him  all  the  while  with 
caressing  words,  whose  meaning  I  felt,  though  I  could  not 
translate  them  into  English,  until  the  boy,  wide  awake, 
laughed  with  his  father  and  was  ready  to  be  again  rolled  up 
beside  his  sleeping  brothers." 

Where  the  Seminole  is  hospitable  is  around  the 
camp  fire  and  the  "  Sof-ka "  kettle.  "  Hum-bux- 
chay  "  (come  eat)  is  his  salutation.  The  kettle  is 


136     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

placed  in  some  covenient  part  of  the  camp  and  at  the 
meal  hour  the  members  of  the  household  sit  around 
it.  A  large  Sof-ka  spoon  rests  in  the  pot,  and  is 
handed  from  one  to  another,  each  taking  a  single 
mouthful.  A  fastidious  taste  might  shrink  from 
using  the  large  spoon,  but  to  affect  such  taste  would 
be  to  offend  mine  host.  Sof-ka  is  the  Seminole 
standard  dish,  and  is  simply  a  stew  made  by  cooking 
the  meat  in  a  large  iron  pot,  and  thickening  with 
meal,  grits  or  vegetable.  Sof-ka  corresponds  in  its 
importance  with  the  Seminole  to  "  frijoles  "  among 
Mexicans.  The  Indians  observe  a  regularity  in 
meal  hours,  yet  at  most  any  hour  the  Sof-ka  kettle 
is  ready  for  those  who  may  come  in  from  the  chase 
enhungered.  So  plentiful  is  game  that  it  is  a  com 
mon  sight  to  see  a  saddle  of  venison  or  a  wild  turkey 
and  perhaps  a  duck  roasting  before  the  fire,  and,  as 
appetite  prompts,  any  member  of  the  camp  may  help 
help  himself  to  the  savory  roast. 

The  Seminole  pickaninnies  are  healthy,  good- 
natured  little  toddlers,  and  show  no  more  savage 
spirit  than  do  their  little  pale-faced  brothers.  They 
play  with  bows  and  arrows,  make  dolls  and  play 
houses,  revel  in  mud  pies,  roast  the  small  birds  they 
kill  before  a  "  spit  fire,"  and  play  they  are  roasting 
wild  turkey.  They  rarely  cry,  as  they  are  taught 
from  infancy  to  show  no  such  weakness;  they  must 
obey  the  slightest  command  of  their  elders.  The 
little  four-year-old  is  taught  to  assist  in  the  duties  of 
the  camp.  He  can  carry  water,  gather  wood,  watch 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     137 

the  little  pappoose,  and  learns  thus  early  that  he  is  an 
important  feature  in  the  tribe. 

The  boys  are  allowed  to  handle  no  weapons  until 
old  enough  to  use  them  successfully.  When  an  In 
dian  boy  is  taught  to  use  a  Winchester  and  returns 
from  the  chase  with  his  first  deer,  favors  are  shown 
him  by  the  elders,  tokens  are  presented  and  he  be 
comes  for  the  time  the  young  Nimrod  of  the  tribe. 

Seminole  children  are  on  the  whole  very  much 
like  other  children,  some  bright,  some  good,  some 
perverse,  all  exceedingly  human.  With  the  disci 
pline  already  instilled  into  their  natures,  and  educa 
tion,  first  for  the  heart,  and  then  for  the  mind,  added, 
success  would  be  assured.  A  Seminole  luxury  which 
serves  as  a  target  as  well  as  food,  is  the  fruit  of  the 
climbing  pumpkin  vine,  which  is  often  seen  among 
the  branches  of  the  trees.  When  wanted  a  well- 
directed  rifle  ball  cuts  the  stem  and  the  pumpkin 
drops  to  the  ground.  This  was  the  sport  enjoyed 
by  the  troops  during  the  Seminole  war. 

The  absence  of  all  earthenware  is  noticeable  in  a 
Seminole  camp.  The  Seminoles  say,  "  Long  time 
ago,"  their  race  made  earthen  pots,  but  white  man's 
kettle  "  heap  good,"  and  they  have  long  since  ceased 
to  work  in  clay.  All  through  Florida  pieces  of  pot 
tery  are  found  in  the  sand  mounds.  In  the  pine 
forests  where  the  land  is  good  for  cultivation,  broken 
pottery  is  frequently  dug  up  out  of  the  ground. 
These  forests  have  grown  over  this  land  evidently 
since  it  was  cultivated  by  former  races.  The  pottery 


138      THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

found  in  parts  of  Florida,  is  said  by  those  having 
made  a  study  of  the  subject  to  resemble  the  Aztec 
pottery  to  some  extent. 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Seminole  man  is 
the  number  of  shirts  and  handkerchiefs  he  wears  at 
one  time.  An  instance  is  related  where  a  white  man 
in  company  with  Billy  Ham  went  out  deer  hunting. 
Emerging  suddenly  from  the  thick  forest,  some  deer 
were  observed  feeding  on  the  Savannah  in  front  of 
them.  The  Indian  was  dressed  in  the  bright  colors 
of  his  race,  and  stealthily  slipping  back  into  the 
shadows  of  the  tree,  he  began  to  remove  shirt  after 
shirt  and  untie  handkerchiefs  from  around  his  neck. 
As  each  article  was  removed,  the  Indian  became  less 
conspicuous.  After  divesting  himself  of  six  or  eight 
shirts  and  eight  or  ten  handkerchiefs,  the  Indian  and 
his  costume  now  blended  with  the  surrounding  ob 
jects.  His  dusky  form  was  in  perfect  symphony 
with  the  dead  leaves  and  grasses,  through  which  he 
silently  crept  toward  his  prey.  The  Indian  prefers 
to  make  sure  of  his  game  by  creeping  upon  it.  He 
can  advance  to  within  a  few  feet  of  a  deer.  The 
deer,  while  feeding,  is  always  on  the  alert  for  an 
enemy.  If  it  sees  nothing  moving  it  will  not  be 
alarmed.  This  is  where  the  strategy  of  the  Indian 
comes  in.  He  stops  just  before  the  animal  raises 
its  head.  The  lifting  of  the  head  is  always  preceded 
by  a  movement  of  the  tail,  hence  the  cunning  Semi 
nole  watches  the  tail  and  knows  when  to  be  still. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     139 

ALLIGATOR    HUNTING. 

At  this  point,  a  detailed  account  of  an  alligator 
hunt  with  the  Seminoles  may  prove  interesting  to 
the  huntsman  who  may  scan- these  pages. 

Some  tourists  hire  the  Indians  who  frequent  civili 
zation  to  guide  them  in  hunts,  but  it  is  poor  Lo's 
idea  to  show  the  white  man  his  hunting;  and  he  will 
take  him  around  and  around,  always  keeping  out  of 
sight  of  game,  with  a  cunning  that  would  do  credit 
to  a  Connecticut  Yankee. 

Possessing  that  talisman,  friendship  and  confidence 
of  the  Seminole  chiefs,  our  hunter  arranged  for  his 
first  alligator  hunt.  To  simplify  the  account  of  the 
tenderfoot's  experience,  we  give  it  as  related  to  the 
writer. 

"  Taking  the  little  steamer  Roseada  at  Kissimmee 
City,  a  two  days'  ride  landed  us  at  Bassenger,  where 
I  was  met  by  an  ox-cart,  driven  and  owned  by  the 
Seminoles.  A  ride  of  forty  miles,  slow  but  sure, 
took  us  to  the  Indian  village.  Here  I  was  met  by 
dogs,  pickaninnies,  squaws  and  braves.  With  time 
limited  and  eager  for  the  hunt  for  big  game,  I  rested 
but  a  few  hours  and  then  announced  myself  read  to 
hi-e-pus  (go). 

"  In  a  cypress  canoe,  poled  by  Chief  Tom  Tiger 
Tail,  we  turned  our  boat  toward  the  interior  of  the 
Everglades,  and  for  three  days  traveled  over  as 
wild  and  weird  a  land  as  Stanley  ever  explored  in 
Darkest  Africa. 

"  Poling    through    water    lilies,    tall    grass    and 


140     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

overhanging  branches,  frequently  getting  stuck  in 
the  shallow  water  and  marsh,  all  gave  more  zest  to 
the  square  mile  than  a  hundred  hunts  in  the  North 
could. 

"  Reaching  the  objective  point  of  our  trip,  the  chief 
tied  up  the  canoe,  and  after  a  hearty  repast,  we  were 
ready  for  the  alligator  hunt.  No  game  laws  ob 
structed  our  progress,  no  sign  boards  read,  *  No 
Trespassing/  and  soon  we  were  equipped  for  the 
night's  hunt. 

'  With  a  bullseye  lantern  attached  to  my  cap,  I  took 
my  seat  in  the  bow,  while  Tiger  Tail,  standing  in  the 
stern,  propelled  the  canoe  with  long,  dextrous  strokes. 
Reaching  a  deep  bayou,  where  the  Seminoles  kill 
hundreds  of  alligators  each  year,  I  was  directed  to 
throw  the  light  quietly  over  the  water,  and  the  pres 
ence  of  the  saurian  would  be  revealed  by  the  reflec 
tion.  Silently,  slowly,  our  canoe  cleaved  the  dark 
waters.  Truly,  the  scene  was  worthy  the  pencil  of 
a  Dore.  A  moonless  sky,  a  wild  expanse  of  bleak 
water,  a  canoe  propelled  by  a  savage,  splendid  and 
careless  in  his  unconscious  grace,  and  as  silent  as  the 
oarsman  of  the  River  Styx.  Soon  the  dismal  soli 
tude  was  broken  by  our  entrance  into  the  alligator 
haunt.  With  stealthy  glide  through  the  still,  dark 
water,  we  were  soon  aware  of  being  near  a  very  large 
'gator  —  the  two  balls  of  fire  shining  in  the  darkness 
told  the  tale.  Without  a  ripple  the  Indian  glided 
his  canoe  within  ten  feet  of  the  monster,  and  a  shot 
between  the  eyes  from  a  .38  Winchester  blew  the 
top  of  his  head  into  small  pieces.  Before  the 


TIGER  TAIL,  A  REPRESENTATIVE  SEMINOLE 

[n   picturesque   harmony    with    the    land    of    the    cocoanut. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     141 

reptile  could  flounder  out  of  reach,  the  carcass  was 
grabbed  and  pulled  into  the  canoe  by  Tom  Tiger, 
and  the  spinal  cord  was  severed  with  an  axe  to  pre 
vent  any  future  trouble. 

"  At  the  first  approach  of  our  light  the  alligators 
gazed  at  it  in  the  most  fatuous  manner,  allowing 
the  boat  to  approach  within  a  very  close  position; 
but  after  one  of  their  number  had  been  slain  they 
commenced  a  vibrating  roaring,  playing  see-saw  with 
their  heads  and  tails  and  slowly  rolling  forth  their 
feelings  in  deep,  thundering  tones.  To  me,  there 
seemed  to  be  500  alligators  in  that  body  of  black 
water  that  night,  and  each  and  every  one  seemed  to 
turn  his  burning  eyes  on  my  little  searchlight  — 
and  they  shone  like  stars.  I  could  easily  tell  a 
big  fellow  by  noticing  if  his  glaring  balls  were 
close  together  or  far  apart.  After  killing  four  or 
five  I  called  out  '  Enough !  '  The  picture  was 
growing  too  gruesome.  The  quivering  mass  of 
reptiles  in  our  canoe  made  me  think  longingly  of 
home.  '  Ungah  '  (all  right)  from  the  Indian  re 
assured  me,  and  the  canoe  was  turned  toward  camp. 
During  the  evening  the  Indian  chief  had  killed  an 
eleven  foot  'gator,  and  so  lifeless  did  it  seem  when 
dragged  into  the  canoe  that  it  was  not  considered 
necessary  to  cut  the  neck  and  back.  The  extraor 
dinary  vitality  of  an  alligator  keeps  it  from  dying 
for  some  time,  the  nerves  often  living  for  several 
hours  after  the  head  has  been  severed.  Our  canoe 
was  loaded  to  the  water's  edge,  with  the  large  saurian 
in  the  bottom.  Presently  a  low  breathing  greeted 


142     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

my  ears;  soon  it  grew  louder,  and  a  faint  motion 
could  be  felt  in  the  boat.  Still  I  remained  passive, 
the  Indian  poling  through  the  deep,  tortuous  stream. 
I  had  instinctively  drawn  my  feet  up,  when  the  great 
mouth,  which  was  toward  me,  opened  and  began 
snapping  angrily.  His  body  began  to  writhe  and 
twist  and  wriggle,  which  set  all  the  other  alligators 
in  motion.  The  situation  was  growing  critical  and 
dangerous,  when  Captain  Tom,  perceiving  the 
trouble,  came  to  the  rescue  with  his  axe  and  none 
too  soon,  for  the  huge  saurian  began  lashing  his 
tail  from  side  to  side,  and  had  the  Indian  been  less 
skillful  in  handling  the  canoe  we  certainly  would 
have  been  turned  overboard.  With  the  hideous 
cargo  silenced,  the  Indian  always  cool  and  nerveless, 
looked  up  and  with  a  humorous  twinkle  in  his  eye 
said,  '  White  man  'fraid  ojus  y  (heap)." 
i, 

BEAR    HUNTING   WITH    THE    SEMINOLES. 

Under  the  head  of  American  Sport,  the  following 
story  of  a  "  Bear  Hunt  with  the  Seminole  Indians," 
appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  Asian  Sporting  News 
paper  of  Calcutta,  India. 

The  story  had  been  accepted  from  the  pen  of  the 
writer  by  Forest  and  Stream  Publishing  Company 
of  New  York,  and  because  our  British  hunters  of 
lion  and  elephant  fame  had  appreciated  an  Ameri 
can  hunt  sufficient  to  scissor  it  (neither  giving  credit 
to  the  author  nor  to  the  American  journal),  the  story 
is  here  appended: 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     143 

J<  Hunting  the  black  bear  in  Florida  is  a  sport  to 
which  few  are  introduced.  This  bear  is  not  fierce 
nor  dangerous,  but  still  he  is  big  game,  and  a 
bear  hunt  is  always  full  of  incident  and  excitement. 
About  ten  miles  from  Kissimmee,  is  a  cypress  swamp 
—  it  is  an  aquatic  jungle  full  of  fallen  trees,  brush, 
vines  and  tangled  undergrowth,  all  darkened  by  the 
dense  shadows  of  the  tall  cypress  trees,  and  full  of 
moccasins  and  alligators.  Running  through  the 
swamp  is  a  chain  of  islands.  Here  is  a  field  for 
sportsmen,  and  here  live  unmolested  a  whole  colony 
of  the  bruin  family.  Hunters  hear  their  growls, 
and  numerous  fresh  tracks  show  where  the  night 
marauders  have  entered  the  hommock,  where  they 
feast  on  wild  honey,  huckleberries,  the  cabbage  of 
the  palmetto  and  the  wild  orange.  They  seldom 
come  out  to  expose  themselves  during  the  day,  hence 
they  are  rarely  captured,  and  in  consequence  are  on 
the  increase.  Settlers  frequently  report  depreda 
tions  on  their  hogs;  but  bruin  is  safe  in  his  swamp 
home,  for  without  dogs  trained  to  hunting  bear, 
even  if  he  were  surprised,  he  would  quickly  make  his 
escape  into  the  jungle. 

"  Of  all  game  of  the  forest  bear  meat  is  the  favor 
ite  dish  of  the  Florida  Indians;  squaws,  pickaninnies 
and  dogs  revel  in  it.  With  this  knowledge,  it  was 
an  easy  matter  to  secure  a  party  of  Seminole  chiefs 
and  their  trained  dogs  for  a  bear  hunt.  The  aus 
picious  day  arrived.  This  picturesque  hunting  party 
came  striding  into  Kissimmee  as  unconscious  and 
statuesque  as  bronze  figures  of  Mercury.  The 


144     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

party  was  led  by  Chief  Tom  Tiger,  following  after 
in  Indian  file  was  old  Chief  Tallahassee,  Doctor 
Tommy  and  Little  Tiger,  while  trailing  along  by 
their  sides  were  the  formidable  looking  dogs. 
Dressed  in  their  holiday  attire,  with  new  leggins  and 
moccasins,  bright  calico  shirts,  a  half-dozen  red 
handkerchiefs  around  their  necks,  crowned  with  the 
immense  red  turban,  the  emblem  of  their  race,  with 
knives  and  cartridges  in  their  belts  and  Winchesters 
at  their  sides,  the  Indians  attracted  as  much  atten 
tion  as  a  Presidential  party. 

"  If  ever  men  deserved  the  name  of  Nimrods,  it 
is  these  sons  of  the  Everglades.  Even  Little  Tiger, 
a  boy  of  twelve,  with  his  fine  rifle,  could  put  to 
shame  many  a  skilled  marksman.  But  on  to  the 
chase.  The  souls  of  the  red  men  seemed  to  leap 
into  them  at  the  thought  of  the  sport  after  bear, 
while  the  hounds  barked  gleefully,  so  with  hasty 
preparations  our  hunting  party  started  for  the  Reedy 
Creek  jungle.  At  this  point  we  will  turn  the  story 
over  to  the  tenderfoot,  that  the  reader  may  better 
follow  the  chase. 

"  As  we  reached  the  hommock,  which  has  been 
for  years  a  veritable  elysium  for  the  bears,  the  dogs 
seemed  to  become  possessed  of  a  very  spirit  of  un 
rest;  soon  they  struck  a  trail.  '  Lo-co-see  ojus ' 
(bear  plenty),  exclaimed  Captain  Tom  Tiger,  as  he 
observed  the  numerous  cabbage  palms  with  their 
buds  freshly  torn  out,  as  well  as  the  conduct  of  his 
dogs,  and  with  a  word  of  command  to  the  hounds, 
he  started.  The  rest  of  us  followed,  till  we  struck 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     145 

a  marsh  heavily  timbered  with  cypress,  which  grew 
so  close  that  sun's  rays  could  not  reach  the  earth. 
It  made  a  dark,  damp  and  dangerous  ground  to 
enter.  The  dogs  were  now  running  with  broad 
scent,  heads  well  up  and  throats  wide  open.  If 
ever  there  was  a  sound  sweet  to  the  hunter's  ears, 
it  was  the  baying  of  five  hounds  close  on  bruins 
trail.  With  nerves  on  a  tension  we  rushed  along, 
with  gun  carried  at  ready.  On  swept  the  riot. 
The  Indians  yelled  as  only  Indians  can,  and  the  ten 
derfoot  brought  up  the  rear.  A  hunt  in  a  Florida 
jungle,  pulling  through  soft  mud,  climbing  over  logs, 
pushing  through  vines,  sprawling  on  hands  and 
knees  through  the  tangled,  matted  undergrowth,  ex* 
pecting  or  fearing  each  step  we  would  strike  a  moo 
casin,  are  the  penalties  paid  for  the  romantic,  ad 
venturous  hunt  with  a  Seminole  Indian.  At  last  the 
supreme  moment  arrived;  the  leading  dog  had 
reached  the  bear,  and  soon  the  five  dogs  and  the 
bear  were  having  a  vigorous  rough  and  tumble 
fight.  We  were  in  good  hearing  distance,  but 
traveling  was  very  difficult,  and  our  progress  was 
slow.  The  Indians'  cry,  '  Yo-ho-ee-hee,  Yo-ho-ee- 
hee !  '  to  the  hounds,  made  them  fight  furiously,  so 
much  so  that  bruin  broke  from  cover  and  started  on 
the  chase  just  before  we  reached  shooting  distance. 
Further  into  the  woods  the  chase  led.  Soon  the 
sound  of  the  pursuing  dogs  ceased,  much  to  our  sur 
prise.  We  appealed  to  the  nearest  Indian  for  an 
explanation.  '  Lo-co-see  (bear)  climb  tree,'  was 
the  brief  reply,  and  later,  when  we  reached  the  dogs, 


146     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

they  were  running  wildly  around  on  the  bank  of  a 
dark  creek.  We  were  again  at  a  loss  to  compre 
hend  the  situation,  until  we  were  shown  by  the  In 
dians  a  leaning  tree,  the  top  of  which  reached  to  the 
further  side  of  the  creek,  over  which  bruin  had 
safely  passed.  '  Lo-co-see-hiepus  '  (bear  gone). 

'  Three  hours'  tramping  through  the  swamp  and 
hot  sun  had  taken  all  the  enthusiasm  out  of  us,  and 
we  were  ready  to  play  quits,  but  the  stalwart  red 
men  had  defiance  in  their  faces  as  they  said,  *  Big 
lo-co-see;  fight  heap;  Indian  kill  lo-co-see  to-day.' 
Away  to  the  left  the  brown  legs  of  little  Tiger  Tom 
could  be  seen  twinkling  through  the  foliage;  he  had 
found  some  fresh  tracks  of  a  cub,  and  in  his  eager 
ness  to  capture  a  baby  bear  he  proved  a  similar  na 
ture  to  his  little  pale-faced  brother.  But  the  stern 
hunters  had  no  time  for  a  cub,  and  soon  started  for 
old  bruin,  who  by  this  time  had  crossed  the  marsh 
and  gotten  into  a  tree  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  by 
this  trickery  put  the  creek  behind  him.  This  did 
not  daunt  a  Seminole  Indian.  Wading  the  shallow 
part  of  the  creek,  with  water  to  the  armpits,  again 
cooled  our  ardor,  but  safety  depended  on  not  los 
ing  sight  of  the  Indians,  as  we  were  miles  in  the 
swamp,  and  with  no  hope  of  finding  our  way  out 
without  the  guidance  of  our  red  pilots.  At  last  the 
bear  was  driven  to  a  small  island  and  surrounded, 
the  island  covered  with  tall  grass  and  weeds  hiding 
both  dogs  and  bear.  The  dogs  grew  furious,  and 
several  times  forced  the  bear  to  stand  and  fight,  and 
such  a  battle  as  it  was;  the  dogs  didn't  hesitate  to 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     147 

take  hold  of  old  bruin,  and  as  a  result  were  badly 
lacerated  from  the  blows  of  her  powerful  paw.  We 
closed  in  and  our  game  was  in  a  trap.  The  Indians 
were  in  their  future  heaven;  but  the  tenderfoot  was 
getting  very  shy  of  being  hugged.  Bruin,  now  find 
ing  herself  cornered,  made  a  break  for  the  open,  and 
as  she  emerged  from  the  tall  grass,  with  the  dogs  at 
her  heels,  she  met  the  stalwart  figure  of  Tom  Tiger. 
Rising  on  her  hind  legs,  with  open  arms,  she  made 
one  dash  for  him,  when  stepping  back,  in  a  cool  and 
deliberate  manner,  he  pulled  the  trigger  of  his  '  scat 
ter  '  gun  and  emptied  both  barrels  into  the  bear's 
side.  This  ended  the  chase,  and  a  happier  set  of 
Indians  the  world  never  saw.  Immediately  they 
drew  their  knives  and  commenced  skinning  the  bear. 
As  the  skin  adheres  very  tenaciously  it  should  be  taken 
off  at  once,  as  it  then  comes  off  much  easier;  besides, 
it  is  difficult  to  scrape  away  all  the  fatty  tissue  after 
it  cools,  and  wherever  any  remains  it  rots  the  pelt. 

"  The  Indians'  method  of  educating  their  dogs 
for  hunting  bear  is  well  worth  knowing.  They  take 
the  gall  of  the  bear  and  thoroughly  saturate  the  nos 
trils  of  the  young  dog.  This  is  excruciating  pain  to 
the  dogs,  and  they  howl  and  whine  for  hours;  but  it 
makes  '  bear  dogs  '  out  of  them,  perfect  on  the  trail, 
and  this  is  the  point  with  the  Indian. 

u  The  huge  carcass  of  bruin  was  divided  and  each 
Indian  carried  a  load  to  camp.  A  fire  was  soon 
built,  and  a  huge  chunk  of  bear  meat  was  thrown 
on  the  coals.  All  night  long  they  cooked  and  ate, 
the  tenderfoot  getting  into  his  hammock  beneath  the 


148     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

bough  of  the  oaks.  We  rested  and  dreamed  —  the 
flicker  from  the  camp-fire,  the  Indians  moving  to  and 
fro,  the  silence  occasionally  broken  by  their  low,  soft 
voices,  and  ever  and  anon  in  this  wakeful  slumber 
came  the  half-dreaming  thought,  *  Betty  and  me 
killed  the  bear!'" 


CHIEF  TOM  TIGER  (MIC-CO  TUSTENUGGEE)  . 

It  is  a  number  of  years  now,  that  Tom  Tiger, 
chieftain,  reached  Kissimmee  after  a  ride  of  160 
miles.  Tall,  straight  and  muscular,  he  proved  him 
self  a  worthy  descendant  of  the  royal  Tustenuggee. 
Dressed  in  the  regalia  of  a  chief,  and  mounted  on  a 
raw  boned  horse,  he  might  have  been  mistaken  for 
a  sheik  of  the  Arabian  desert.  He  had  come  on  a 
friendly  visit  incidentally,  but  to  tell  his  white  friend 
his  trouble  over  a  horse  which  had  been  procured 
under  a  fraudulent  pretense,  by  a  white  trader. 
The  story  is  a  long  one,  but  suffice  to  say  proceed 
ings  were  instituted  and  with  the  result  that  Captain 
Tom  Tiger,  Seminole  chieftain,  was  the  first  Florida 
Indian  that  ever  stood  up  in  a  white  man's  court, 
making,  as  the  spectators  remarked,  the  most  impos 
ing  picture  they  had  ever  witnessed. 

The  tall,  magnificent  looking  savage,  with  up 
lifted  hand,  took  the  oath  on  the  holy  Book,  with  a 
perfect  understanding  of  its  meaning. 

The  case  was  prosecuted  by  the  Society,  "  Friends 
of  the  Florida  Seminoles,"  and  achieved  notoriety  for 
being  the  first  case  in  Florida  in  which  a  Seminole 


CAPT     TOM    TIGER 
(Micco   Tustenug-gee.) 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     149 

sought  the  protection  of  the  court.  It  was  told  that 
the  State's  Attorney  made  the  most  thrilling  speech 
of  his  life  as  he  pleaded  for  the  barbarian  of  the 
swamp.  The  Indian  never  swerved  under  the 
strongest  cross-examination,  but  told  the  story 
simply  and  direct.  The  status  of  the  case  was  this : 
The  white  man  was  to  return  the  horse  at  the  end 
of  two  moons,  binding  the  promise  by  writing.  The 
argument  was  written  on  a  cartridge  box;  a  terrific 
rain  storm  came;  the  box  was  soaked  in  water,  and 
the  writing  made  illegible.  Because  Tom  could  not 
read,  he  could  not  make  oath  as  to  what  was  written 
on  the  box,  the  white  man  testifying  he  had  bought 
the  horse.  On  this  simple  technicality  the  case  was 
lost  and  the  white  man  escaped  the  penitentiary. 

Like  many  of  his  race,  Tom  had  a  love  for  Wy- 
o-mee  (whiskey),  and  was  not  averse  to  taking  it. 
In  speaking  of  a  saloonkeeper  he  would  say,  "  Cap 
tain,  good  man,  five  Indians  go  in  saloon,  five 
drinks  give  'im.  No  money  take,"  but  when  Tom 
was  asked  to  drink  no  whiskey  in  Kissimmee,  he 
promised,  "  un-gah "  (all  right).  A  day  or  two 
after,  the  white  friend  stepped  out  of  his  office,  and 
looking  back  saw  the  tall  form  of  Tom  just  passing 
into  the  saloon  —  headed  by  three  cowboys.  Tom 
returned  to  the  office,  and  his  friend  chided  him  for 
going  to  the  saloon.  "  Whiskey,  me  no  take  'em, 
lemonade,  me  take,  cowboys  wy-o-mee  take."  The 
white  friend's  trust  had  not  been  betrayed. 

In  this  Indian's  visit  of  a  week,  many  chapters 
were  revealed  of  the  character  and  home  life  of  this 


150     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

tribe.  Savages,  it  is  true,  but  honor,  justice  and  re 
ligion  shine  forth  in  their  tribal  life. 

During  his  absence,  the  squaws  and  pickaninnies 
watched  the  potato  and  corn  patch,  and  cared  for 
the  hogs,  surely  worthy  tribute  to  a  domestic  life. 

In  relating  a  tragedy  of  the  forest,  Capt.  Tom 
seemed  much  affected.  The  chief,  attracted  by  the 
cries  of  young  birds,  found  that  a  rookery  of  the 
beautiful  white  heron  had  been  completely  destroyed 
by  plume  hunters,  and  the  grounds  strewn  with  the 
mutilated  bodies  of  the  parent  birds.  From  the  tall 
trees  overhead  the  starving  nestlings  were  spending 
their  waning  strength  in  calling  for  food.  The  piti 
ful  scene  touched  the  heart  of  the  strong  red  man,  and 
he  paused  in  his  journey  to  find  food  for  the  helpless 
birdlings.  In  relating  the  circumstance,  the  Indian 
said,  "  Little  birds,  cry,  cry,  all  day.  No  water,  no 
fish,"  till  the  Indian  boys  caught  minnows  and  daily 
climbed  the  lofty  trees  and  fed  and  watered  the 
young  egrets,  a  tribute  to  the  savage  mind  over  the 
cruelty  of  the  civilized  and  Christianized  white  man. 

A  few  years  ago,  Florida  was  an  ornithological 
Eden,  the  winter  home  of  countless  thousands  of  the 
migratory  birds  of  the  North  American  Continent; 
but  alas,  the  blood  thirsty  greed  of  the  Caucasian  for 
gold  is  shown  in  the  brutal  extermination  of  the 
plumed  egret,  and  "  the  passing  of  the  snowy  heron  " 
is  the  price  of  human  callousness.  The  Indian  chief 
probably  did  not  see  in  the  fate  of  the  innocent  plume 
bird,  a  prophecy  of  the  destiny  of  the  Seminole. 

The  same  forces  are  at  work  to-day  to  take  from 


THE  INDIAN'S  HUNTING  GROUND 

Within  a  mile  of  the  wigwams,   the  big  dredges  clank   and  groan,   an  ac 
companiment    as    it   were,    to    the    dirge    of   the    recessional    Seminoles." 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     151 

the  helpless  Seminole  his  home  and  happy  hunting 
ground. 

Tom  Tiger  made  his  last  visit  to  Kissimmee  dur 
ing  the  Spanish-American  war,  and  a  touching  and 
pleasing  feature  of  the  visit  was  the  meeting  between 
General  Fitzhugh  Lee  and  this  Chieftain  of  the  Semi- 
noles. 

The  train  bearing  General  Lee  and  staff  stopped 
at  Kissimmee.  where  crowds  of  citizens  went  to  wel 
come  the  hero  of  the  Southland.  General  Lee, 
dressed  in  his  rank  as  U.  S.  general,  Chief  Tom 
Tiger  in  the  regalia  of  a  Seminole  chieftain. 
The  scene  is  indelibly  impressed  upon  all  who  wit 
nessed  the  meeting.  The  Indian  chief  with  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  in  his  hand,  was  introduced  and 
shook  hands  with  the  great  American  soldier.  In 
hearty  tones  General  Lee  responded,  "  I  am  glad 
to  see  you,  Chief." 

Tom  was  told  he  must  "  yell  "  when  the  train 
came  in.  He  understood  and  answered,  "  Me  hol 
ler  (ojus),"  and  he  did,  a  genuine  Seminole  war  cry, 
"  Yo-he-ee-hee  —  Yo-ho-ee-hee !  " 

Driven  and  hunted,  homeless  and  helpless,  this  In 
dian  was  a  strong  ally  of  the  United  States.  "  No 
fight  white  man,"  meaning  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  "  shoot  Spaniards,  ojus  "  (heap),  was  Tom's 
reply  when  the  attitude  of  the  two  countries  was  ex 
plained  to  him. 

One  by  one  the  older  Indians  are  passing  away, 
and  when  word  was  received  that  Captain  Tom  Tiger 
had  been  killed  by  a  stroke  of  lightning,  the  news 


152     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

was  received  with  genuine  sorrow.  In  his  death,  a 
fair,  generous  and  faithful  friend  was  gone.  Cap 
tain  Tom  was  building  himself  a  dugout  canoe  on 
the  edge  of  the  cypress  swamp,  his  family  being  with 
him  at  the  time.  Seeing  an  approaching  storm,  he 
sent  them  back  to  their  wigwam.  When  he  did  not 
return,  the  Indians  went  to  seek  him  and  found  his 
dead  body.  Other  Indians  turned  the  unfinished 
canoe  into  a  mausoleum,  and  there  rested  his  remains 
until  an  avaricious  curio  seeker  sought  it  out  and 
robbed  it  of  the  body  of  the  chief.  Considering  the 
tender  respect  the  Florida  Indians  have  for  their 
dead,  and  also  the  superstition  that  any  desecrations 
of  the  bones  bring  dire  calamities  to  the  tribe,  it  is 
not  surprising  that  this  act  of  vandalism  aroused  the 
Seminoles  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  they  were  stirred 
as  they  have  not  been  since  the  days  of  the  Indian 
wars.  The  whites  realized  that  unless  they  were 
pacified  they  were  liable  to  give  trouble. 

Two  of  the  leaders  of  the  band  visited  the  au 
thorities  at  Fort  Pierce,  Florida,  and  the  newspapers 
of  that  date  give  the  following  account,  ''  Big 
Yankee  steal  bones  of  Tiger  Tom,  Indians  Big 
Chief  and  best  friend.  Indians  all  fight.  Kill  white 
man  ojus,  bones  no  bring  back  by  big  white  chiefs 


next  moon." 


The  matter  was  immediately  taken  up,  and  in 
formation  filed  by  the  State  Attorney  in  the  Circuit 
Court  against  the  party,  charging  him  with  disturbing 
the  grave  of  another  and  having  in  his  possession  a 
dead  body.  All  over  the  United  States  the  account 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     153 

was  taken  up  by  the  press  and  looked  upon  as  a  mat 
ter  of  serious  importance,  as  the  Smithsonian  Institu 
tion  was  credited  with  being  behind  the  rapacious 
curio  hunter. 

The  matter  was  brought  to  Mr.  J.  M.  Willson, 
Jr.,  recognized  as  the  Seminoles'  best  friend  among 
the  whites. 

The  letter  following  explains  the  situation  and  is 
herein  given: 

SECRETARY  RATHBUN'S  STATEMENT. 

"Mr.  J.  M.  Willson,  Jr.,  Secretary  Society  of  Friends  of 
Seminole  Indians,  Kissimmee,  Fla. 

"Dear  Sir: — Replying  to  your  letter  of  the  24th  inst.,  I 

beg  to  say  that  about  six  weeks  ago  a  Mr. ,  about  whom 

nothing  is  known  here,  wrote  to  the  National  Museum  and 
offered  to  present  certain  Indian  relics  which  he  had  ob 
tained  in  Florida,  including  a  skeleton  of  an  Okeechobee 
(not  Seminole)  chief.  Assuming  that  these  objects  were 
properly  acquired  by  him,  he  was  notified  that  they  would 
be  accepted.  No  further  word  or  the  objects  arriving,  it 
has,  therefore,  been  supposed  that  he  disposed  of  the  relics 
elsewhere.  The  heading  of  his  letter  paper  indicates  that 
he  is  the  secretary  and  general  manager  of  an  amusement 
resort,  called  Island  Park,  at t'a.,  and  it  is  not  impossi 
ble  that  the  relics  were  taken  there. 

"  Although  I  find  that  the  name  of  the  chief  was  men 
tioned  in  Mr. 's  letter,  the  fact  that  he  spoke  of  him  as 

belonging  to  the  extinct  Okeechobee  tribe  entirely  misled 
the  Museum  authorities  who  did  not  associate  him  with 
the  Seminole  Captain  Tom  Tiger,  about  whom  so  much 


154     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

has  lately  been  printed  in  the  papers  until  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  to-day. 

"  I  cannot  express  too  strongly  my  abhorrence  of  the  act 
of  Mr. ,  whose  desecration  of  this  grave  I  consider  out 
rageous  and  sacrilegious.  The  man  had  no  connection  with 
this  museum  or  any  branch  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute, 
as  he  seems  to  have  claimed  several  weeks  before  he  sent 
in  his  letter. 

"  You  can  readily  understand,  therefore,  that  the  museum 
will  be  only  too  glad  to  cooperate  with  your  society  in 
securing  the  return  of  the  remains  and  of  any  objects  that 
may  have  been  taken  with  them  from  the  grave.  If  they 
should  be  received  at  the  museum  they  will  be  promptly 
forwarded  to  Florida. 

"  I  have  forwarded  your  letter  to  Mr. ,  at  the  address 

given  in  his  letter,  viz:     Box  531, ,  Pa.,  and  I  have  also 

written  him. 

"  Trusting  that  this  unfortunate  matter  may  soon  be  satis 
factorily  adjusted,  I  am,  dear,  sir,  very  respectfully  yours, 

"  RATHBUN, 
"  Assistant  Secretary  in  charge  of  National  Museum." 

The  bones  of  the  noted  Indian  were  quietly  re 
stored,  and  all  trouble  averted,  but  of  the  throbbing 
hearts  of  these  interesting  countrymen  of  Osceola 
what  shall  we  say? 


NANCY   OSCEOLA. 

A  short  time  ago,  the  press  chronicled  the  news 
that  the  old  Seminole  squaw,  Nancy,  living  at  the 
Big  Cypress  camp,  was  dead.  The  account  stated 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     155 

that  Nancy  was  the  widow  of  the  famous  chieftain 
(Osceola),  and  that  she  was  survived  by  seven  chil 
dren.  The  associated  press  took  up  the  story  and 
many  accepted  it  as  true. 

It  is  the  desire  of  the  writer  to  say  that  Osceola's 
wives  (for  he  had  two)  went  into  captivity  and  were 
with  him  when  he  died,  a  captive  of  the  United  States 
Government,  and  is  is  safe  to  suppose  they,  with  his 
children,  were  taken  with  the  other  Seminole  cap 
tives  to  the  West. 

Old  Nancy  was  the  squaw  of  a  half-brother  of 
Osceola  —  hence  a  sister-in-law.  A  few  years  ago 
she  consented  to  have  her  picture  taken  amidst  a 
group  of  her  great-great  granchildren.  Chief  Tal 
lahassee  quickly  recognized  the  picture  and  said, 
"  Old  too  much  —  eyes  no  see,  blind  ojus."  When 
questioned  as  to  her  identity,  with  the  suggestion 
that  she  might  be  Osceola's  widow,  Tallahassee 
showed  marked  disdain,  "  No,  no,  Osceola,  big 
chief.  Squaw  no  got  one  in  Florida.  Old  Nancy 
Osceola's  brother's  squaw." 

BILLY   BOWLEGS    (CHO-FEE-HAT-CHO) . 

Several  months  ago,  Cho-fee-hat-cho  (Billy  Bow- 
legs)  ,  a  warrior  of  more  than  usual  intelligence,  made 
his  long-promised  visit  to  Kissimmee. 

Here,  away  from  his  natural  surroundings,  one 
could  study  his  Indian  characteristics  from  an  un- 
prejudicial  standpoint. 

As  a  speciman  of  manhood,  he  is  far  above  the 


156     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

average.  Although  six  feet,  two  inches  tall,  he  is 
so  symmetrically  proportioned  that  one  loses  sight  of 
his  height.  His  features  are  good,  his  hands  and 
feet  remarkably  small,  his  voice  soft  and  low  —  a 
characteristic  of  every  Seminole. 

His  dress  was  the  holiday  attire  of  the  tribe,  his 
tunic  or  shirt  he  had  made  himself,  was  highly  deco 
rated  with  bands  of  narrow  red, —  leggins  and  moc 
casins  elaborately  thonged,  and  around  his  neck 
about  a  dozen  gaily  colored  handkerchiefs,  not  worn 
for  warmth,  but  because  it  is  a  Seminole  fashion. 

His  large  turban  was  embraced  by  a  silver  band, 
made  from  four  silver  dollars  beaten  with  the  imple 
ments  which  can  be  found  at  an  Indian  village.  He 
wore  a  gold  watch  and  chain  and  regulated  his  time 
piece  by  the  railroad  clock.  Billy  is  a  fantastic 
dresser,  but  he  is  a  loyal  Seminole  and  a  progressive 
one,  too.  He  keeps  posted  on  the  markets  in  his 
own  particular  line  of  business.  His  pockets  bulge 
with  letters  received  from  New  York  and  Jackson 
ville  buyers  of  skins  and  otter  pelts.  He  expects  no 
favors,  pays  for  what  he  receives  and  keeps  a  prom 
ise,  although  a  year  may  elapse  before  he  is  able  to 
do  so.  He  is  often  a  purchasing  agent  for  members 
of  the  band,  and  in  his  small  way  has  a  mercantile 
mind,  buying  four  shawls  for  $1.75  that  would  re 
tail  at  fifty  cents  each,  he  will  sell  out,  with  the  satis 
factory  remark,  "25  cents  me  make  'em." 

Billy  ventures  beyond  the  confines  of  his  Ever 
glade  home,  much  oftener  than  any  other  of  the 
tribe.  To  the  stranger  he  is  all  indifference,  answer- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     157 

ing:  "  Yes,"  "  No,"  "  Me  don't  know,"  as  it  suits 
him. 

Billy  has  visited  St.  Augustine,  and  has  seen  the 
Ponce  De  Leon  Hotel,  but  explained  that  "  no  get 
inside."  The  season  was  not  "  on,"  otherwise  the 
Seminole  brave  would  have  been  one  of  the  celeb 
rities  that  enter  its  great  portals.  New  York  and 
Washington  do  honor  to  dukes  and  counts,  and  this 
Aboriginal  American  Knight  is  no  less  a  Prince  of  the 
Everglades. 

He  has  made  several  visits  to  Kissimmee,  hence 
is  well  known  to  the  white  people.  At  the  ringing 
of  the  church  bells  on  Sunday  morning  it  was  ex 
plained  to  the  Indian  that  they  were  to  call  the  people 
to  the  church,  so  that  the  preacher  might  tell  them  of 
the  white  man's  God.  With  the  inquiry,  "  You 
go?  "  to  his  host,  and  receiving  an  answer  in  the  af 
firmative,  Billy  said,  "  Me  go  too." 

He  was  escorted  to  the  chapel  and  through  the 
long  sermon  was  a  model  of  propriety  and  con 
formed  perfectly  with  the  customs  of  the  church. 
He  expressed  himself  later  as  liking  the  music,  but 
remarked  that  the  "  preacher  talked  too  fast." 

From  time  to  time  colored  pictures  from  Sunday 
School  charts  have  been  given  or  mailed  to  the  In 
dians  and  Billy  reports,  "  Indians  got  'em,"  keeping 
them  with  their  treasures  in  boxes  or  trunks. 

Blue  backed  spelling  books  had  been  sent  to  these 
Indians,  for  the  spelling  book  is  the  Seminole's  ideal 
in  literature,  and  Billy  reported  that  the  books  were 
in  good  order  —  and  Indian  boys,  spell  "  littly  bit." 


158     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Who  shall  say  there  is  no  hope  for  the  civilization 
of  this  picturesque  tribe? 

Not  a  hair's  breadth  will  this  Indian  diverge  from 
the  truth.  Even  to  the  simple  question  as  to  when 
he  would  visit  his  white  friends  again,  he  replied, 
"  Six  moons;  me  don't  know,  maybe  ten  moons;  six 
moons,  me  say  —  no  come,  white  man  say,.  *  Billy 
Bowlegs  lock-a-dox  ojus!'  (lie  too  much)." 

Billy  is  grateful  for  favors  shown  him  and  on 
his  return  from  a  visit  always  sends  some  remem 
brance.  A  letter  usually  accompanies  the  present, 
and  the  following  is  a  unique  specimen  of  his  literary 
ability : 

"Indian  Town,  Fla.,  J.  M.  Willson, 
Jr.,  Kissimmee. 

I  write  you  Letter.  I  send  you  Big  Alli 
gator  Feet  skin.  Big  Alligator  12  ft. 
long  4%  inches.  This  time  Indian  no  sick 
All  Good  Well  Ojus.  You  write  to  me 
Letter.  Your  Friend 

Mr.  Billy  Bowlegs." 

In  his  signature,  Billy  always  uses  the  prefix, 
"  Mr." 

At  another  time  on  Billy's  return  to  his  Okeecho- 
bee  home,  a  letter  was  received  which  read: 

"  MY  GOOD  FRIEND: 

"  Littly  white  birds  me  send.  Indians 
all  well." 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     159 

The  egrets,  snowy  white  and  beautiful  as  a  poem, 
came  in  a  crate  made  of  green  palm  stems,  with  a 
door  fastened  by  buck  skin  hinges  and  buck  skin 
catch,  the  whole  a  marvel  of  neatness  and  ingenuity. 

The  birds  were  at  once  given  the  freedom  of  the 
lawn,  where  they  have  been  a  constant  surprise,  in 
showing  how  full  of  confidence,  how  charming  the 
wild  heron  can  be  made  under  habits  of  domestica 
tion.  They  love  companionship  and  at  meal  time 
they  station  themselves  like  two  sentinels,  at  the  din 
ing  room  piazza.  Here  they  stand,  with  their  long 
necks  craning  into  the  door-way,  alert  and  tense, 
waiting  for  their  beef  to  be  thrown  to  them. 

These  white  plumed  egrets,  with  their  dark, 
piercing  eyes,  their  spotless  white  figures  adorned  in 
their  bridal  veil  of  long  silken  plumes,  make  a  picture 
that  an  artist  may  envy. 

It  is  a  pleasing  and  encouraging  fact  that  on  all 
occasions  when  the  Seminoles  visit  white  settlements 
they  are  warmly  welcomed  by  the  whites  and  treated 
with  the  utmost  respect  and  many  times  entertained 
as  one  would  celebrities. 

The  Florida-Times-Union  always  breaks  a  lance 
in  favor  of  the  Seminole.  During  a  carnival  season 
in  Jacksonville,  Billy  Bowlegs  visited  the  city,  and  of 
his  visit  an  editorial  read: 

"  Jacksonville  has  among  her  guests  this  week  one  of  the 
most  representative  Indians  in  America  to-day  —  the  highest 
type  of  what  is  known  as  the  savage  tribe.  .  .  .  Billy 
was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  last  night's  parade;  he  rode  in 


160     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

one  of  the  most  striking  and  effective  floats  of  the  parade, 
that  of  the  Florida  East  Coast  R.  R.  Company.  .  .  . 
This  float  bore  the  distinction  of  conveying  the  noble  figure 
of  this  Seminole  chief  and  thus  the  only  one  with  a  member 
of  the  real  and  single  strictly  American  race.  Billy  Bow- 
legs  is  no  savage,  but  a  magnificent  specimen  of  physical 
manhood,  with  a  dignity,  a  reserve,  a  keen  intelligence  and 
an  honest  heart  —  a  representative  of  that  forlorn  remnant 
who  regard  honor  with  commendable  sacredness." 

Billy  visited  the  Times-Union  office,  and  took  the 
keenest  interest  in  the  mechanical  equipments  for 
making  a  newspaper. 

A  fac-simile  of  Billy's  writing  appeared  in  the 
paper  at  this  time  and,  a  year  later,  it  made  an 
amusing  picture  to  witness  Billy's  expression  when 
he  was  shown  the  fac-simile;  the  clipping  having 
been  taken  from  the  paper  at  the  time.  Very 
quickly  memory  came  to  him  and  he  said,  "  Me  know  ; 
my  name  write  big  paper,  Jacksonville." 


Such  names  as  Tom  Tiger,  Doctor  Tommy,  Wild 
Cat  and  Billy  Bowlegs,  are  white  man's  names  for 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     161 

the  Indians.  Each  Indian  has  his  Indian  name, 
which  is  significant  of  some  family  or  personal  char 
acteristic,  and  which  contains  the  root  word  of  the 
gens  to  which  the  Indian  belongs.  During  the  In 
dian's  visit  he  expressed  a  wish  to  have  the  Seminole 
names  of  a  number  of  his  people  written  down  so 
that  he  might  make  a  copy  and  carry  home  with  him. 
Certainly  this  young  brave  could  not  be  called  stupid 
or  sluggish.  Knowing  that  the  information  was 
sought  for  the  purpose  of  putting  it  into  a  book,  so 
that  **  the  people  could  read  about  the  good  Indians 
of  Florida, "  he  showed  the  greatest  interest  in  the 
questions,  making  his  answers  direct  and  truth 
ful. 

With  the  patience  of  a  sphinx  this  Indian 
answered  questions  till  dark.  When  asked  if  he 
were  tired,  he  answered,  "  Tired  ojus,"  although  his 
native  politeness  had  not  permitted  him  to  show  any 
special  restlessness  at  the  tedious  afternoon's  ques 
tioning.  An  air  of  deepest  solemnity  would  rest  up 
on  his  face  until  he  was  assured  his  meaning  was 
thoroughly  understood.  During  his  visit  he  ex 
pressed  an  eagerness  to  learn,  and  followed  a  copy 
with  remarkable  exactness.  With  the  desire  to 
read  and  write,  however,  ended  all  ambition  to  be 
like  the  white  man. 

Every  effort  was  made  to  please  so  rare  a  visitor, 
favors  were  shown  him,  in  fact  he  was  treated  as  a 
most  honored  guest,  yet  this  son  of  the  forest  re 
ceived  it  all  with  a  silent  dignity  that  would  have 
graced  a  monarch.  When  he  was  ready  to  leave  he 


1 62     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

quietly  arose,  remarking,  "  Me  hi-e-pus  "   (go),  and 
noiselessly  passed  out  of  the  house. 

It  is  a  disputed  question  whether  a  wild  Indian  of 
pure  blood  has  ever  been  permanently  civilized. 
One  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Osage  band  once  said 
that  "  it  took  fifteen  years  to  get  a  blanket  off 
Joseph  Pawnee-o-passhee,  Chief  of  the  Osage  tribe, 
and  it  took  Joseph  just  fifteen  minutes  to  get  it  on 
him  again." 


RELIGION. 

A  pretty  tradition  among  the  Seminoles  is  that  a 
beautiful  race  of  Indians,  whose  women  they  call  the 
daughters  of  the  sun,  reside  among  the  swamps  and 
lakes  of  the  O-kee-fee-ne-kee  wilderness  and  live  in 
uninterrupted  felicity  upon  islands  of  eternal  verdure, 
feasting  upon  the  luxuries  of  the  islands,  but  inac 
cessible  to  the  approach  of  human  footsteps. 

Unlike  the  child  of  Africa,  who  lives  in  a  world 
of  ghosts  and  goblins,  the  Seminole  is  not  supersti 
tious.  He  has  his  traditions,  his  mythologies,  and 
on  these  are  based  his  history.  He  obeys  the  Great 
Spirit,  but  it  is  not  from  any  spirit  of  fear;  it  is  the 
teaching  of  his  fathers,  and  becomes  the  duty  of  the 
Indian.  The  religion  of  the  Seminole  has  been  with 
out  question  the  most  difficult  of  all  their  history  to 
reach. 

The  Florida  Indians  believe  in  a  Supreme  Being; 
in  the  immortality  of  the  soul ;  in  the  future  existence 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     163 

and  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  Reverence,  too, 
is  one  of  his  distinguishing  features.  His  language 
contains  no  oath,  nor  any  word  to  express  disrespect 
to  the  Great  Spirit.  A  missionary  will  receive  most 
respectful  attention  for  their  reverence  to  God  will 
not  permit  them  to  laugh  at  His  messenger.  The 
Seminole  qualifies  the  Supreme  Being  as  the  "  Giver 
and  Taker  away  of  Life."  The  Aztec  designated, 
as  the  "  God  by  Whom  We  Live." 

Their  conception  of  the  creation  of  man  is  very 
unique.  u  Long  time  ago,  E-shock-e-tom-isee 
(God)  took  seeds  and  scattered  them  all  around 
in  a  rich  valley  bordering  a  river.  By  and  by,  God 
saw  fingers  coming  out  of  the  ground  and  great 
people  —  heap  too  many  came  up  from  out  of  the 
sand.  Some  went  to  the  river  and  washed,  washed, 
washed  too  much;  it  made  them  weak  and  pale;  this 
was  the  es-ta-chat-tee  (white  race).  Others  went 
to  the  river  and  washed  not  too  much,  they  returned 
full  of  courage,  strong,  heap;  this  was  the  es-ta-had- 
kee  (red  race).  The  remainder  no  wash,  lazy  too 
much,  es-ta-lus-tee  (black  man)." 

In  an  extract  taken  from  an  old  history  printed 
in  London  in  1776,  descriptive  of  the  native  inhabi 
tants  of  Florida,  these  people  are  described  as  idola 
ters,  worshipping  the  sun  and  moon  —  the  worship 
consisting  of  saluting  the  rising  sun,  chanting  his 
praise  and  offering  sacrifices  to  the  planet  four  times 
a  year.  ^They  believe  that  the  sun  was  the  parent 
of  Iife3 


1 64     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  ancient  rites  of  this 
race,  the  present  people  seem  to  have  outlived  all 
remembrance  of  them  as  well  as  of  their  early  ances 
tors  themselves.  A  glimmering  of  the  Christian  re 
ligion,  no  doubt  instilled  into  the  race  more  than  two 
hundred  years  ago  by  the  Franciscan  priests,  still 
seems  to  linger  among  the  descendants  of  to-day  and 
constitutes  their  religion  largely.  These  rites  they 
observe  as  faithfully  as  they  did  a  century  ago;  and 
yet  in  all  that  time  they  have  received  no  further 
teaching,  and  have  no  personal  knowledge  of  the  civ 
ilizing  effects  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  In  the  same 
length  of  time  where  would  have  been  the  religion 
of  the  Caucasian  race,  without  the  divine  word,  and 
without  the  influence  of  men  who  have  devoted  their 
lives  to  the  cause  of  Christianity?  CThe  Seminoles 
believe  in  God  (E-shock-e-tom-issee)  ;  that  God  had 
a  son  (E-shock-e-tom-issee-e-po-chee)  who  came  on 
earth  and  lived  with  the  Indians  "  long  time  ago  to 
make  them  good  Indians.^ 

One  is  tempted  upon  an  intimate  knowledge  of  this 
race  to  wonder  whether  the  Son  of  Man  appeared  to 
the  Indain  also ;  could  not  the  Light  of  the  World  in 
some  mysterious  way  have  touched  the  soul  of  this 
innocent  people  ?  The  more  one  studies  the  Seminole, 
the  more  one  wonders.  Christ,  according  to  their 
traditions,  was  killed  by  the  "  wicked  Spaniards  " 
when  they  first  came  to  this  continent.  v  Since  that 
time  it  has  been  the  duty  of  the  medicine  men  to  teach 
the  Indians  "  to  think  with  God,"  and  to  impart  the 
Great  Spirit's  wishes  to  his  red  children.^  Each  tribe 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     165 

has  two  or  more  medicine  men  who  act  as  priests  as 
well  as  doctors.  These  men  are  highly  honored  by 
the  tribe,  because  they  believe  them  to  be  directed  by 
the  Supreme  Being.  Just  before  the  festival  of  the 
Green  Corn  Dance  the  medicine  men  leave  the  tribe, 
and  going  to  a  secret  spot,  there  build  a  lodge.  Here 
they  fast  for  twenty-four  hours,  after  which  they  take 
a  potion,  made  of  herbs,  which  causes  a  deep  sleep 
to  come  over  them.  It  is  now  that  God  appears  to 
them  in  a  dream  and  tells  them  how  to  make  the  In 
dians  "  think  good,"  and  how  they  shall  prepare  the 
herbs  for  medicine.  Returning  in  time  to  prepare 
for  the  great  feast  they  occupy  a  most  prominent  posi 
tion  in  the  dance  circle.^  The  Seminole  tradition  of 
Christ's  coming  to  live  with  the  Indians,  is  that  the 
Son  of  God  stopped  at  the  most  southern  point  of 
Florida,  at  which  place  he  was  met  by  three  Indians 
who  carried  him  around  the  Southern  Peninsula  on 
their  shoulders,  while  he  sowed  the  seeds  of  the 
"  koonti  "  root,  which  was  God's  gift  to  the  red  men. 
(This  koonti  is  a  wild  cassava  and  found  only  in 
the  extreme  southern  portion  of  Florida.)  Accord 
ing  to  the  legend,  the  Indians  were  in  a  starving  con 
dition.  The  ground  was  parched,  no  corn  grew  and 
the  game  had  all  left.  During  the  long  time  in 
which  the  Indians  waited  for  the  koonti  to  grow, 
God  rained  down  bread  "  heap,  plenty,"  which  the 
Indians  gathered  and  ate.  In  describing  this  bread, 
which  came  down  in  the  rain  each  morning,  the  In 
dian  illustrated  in  this  wise:  "  Littly  bread,  white 
man's  biscuit  all  the  same,  good,  every  Indian  eat 


1 66     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

plenty."  The  Mosaic  account  of  the  manna  from 
heaven  is  evident  in  this  legend. 

The  Seminole  believes  in  a  future  state,  In-li- 
Ke-ta  (heaven  or  home).  To  this  place  do  the 
good  Indians  go  after  death.  Here  they  may  "  hunt, 
hunt,  hunt,  plenty  deer,  plenty  turkey,  plenty  bear 
find,  and  cool  water  ojus  (plenty)  all  the  time.  Bad 
Indians  after  big  sleep  hunt,  hunt,  hunt,  hunt  deer, 
turkey,  bear  —  no  find  'em,  hot  water  drink  all  the 
time." 

The  Indians'  religion,  for  we  may  justly  call  it 
so,  is  sacred  to  him,  and  it  is  difficult  to  get  him 
to  reveal  his  inmost  thoughts)  His  idea  of  the  Bible 
is  vague,  because  he  understands  it  as  the  work  of 
man.  "  White  man  got  book,  him  good  one  day, 
he  steal,  cheat  next  day;  book  no  good.  Injun  no 
make  book,  he  no  see  hunting  ground,  him  no  go 
and  come  back.  Big  sleep,  no  come  back,  him  no  lie 
about  it.  Me  think  good  Injun  find  hunting  ground 
all  right;  me  think  me  find  it.  White  man,  big  sleep 
comes,  me  think  no  find  In-li-Ke-ta  (heaven)  easy." 

After  death  the  body  of  a  Seminole  is  immediately 
prepared  for  burial,  the  corpse  being  clad  in  new 
clothes.  When  a  chief  dies  one  cheek  is  painted  red, 
the  other  one  is  painted  black.  The  rest  of  the  tribe 
do  not  have  the  face  painted  for  burial.  It  will  be 
recalled  that  Osceola,  with  the  death  struggle  already 
upon  him,  rose  in  his  bed,  and  u  with  his  own  hand 
painted  one-half  of  his  face,  his  neck  and  his  throat, 
his  wrists,  the  back  of  his  hands  and  the  handle  of  his 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     167 

knife   red,   with   vermillion,"   the   marks   of  a   war 
chief. 

At  sunrise,  on  the  day  following  a  death,  the  body 
is  carried  by  two  Indian  men  to  the  place  of  inter 
ment.  The  corpse  is  placed  on  a  base  made  of  logs 
with  the  face  to  the  rising  sun.  If  the  deceased  be 
a  warrior,  his  rifle  and  accoutrements  are  placed  by 
his  side,  "  that  he  may  be  fully  armed  on  his  arrival 
at  the  happy  hunting  grounds."  A  bottle  of  Sof-ka 
is  buried  with  him  that  he  may  eat  on  his  long  jour 
ney.  Around  the  body  is  built  a  pen  of  logs  sloping 
till  they  close  at  the  top  and  thickly  covered  with 
palmetto  leaves.  The  protection  is  to  prevent  the 
wild  beasts  from  despoiling.  With  faces  now  turned 
reverently  to  the  rising  sun,  they  commend  into  the 
keeping  of  the  Great  Spirit  the  bivouac  of  the  dead. 
The  bearers  of  the  dead  then  make  a  fire  at  each  end 
of  the  grave,  and  the  mourners  return  to  camp,  the 
women  loudly  wailing  and  tearing  their  hair.  At  the 
death  of  a  husband  the  widow  must  live  with  dis 
heveled  hair  for  one  year.  Her  long  black  tresses 
are  worn  over  her  face  and  shoulders,  and  she  pre 
sents  a  forsaken,  pitable  appearance.  At  the  end  of 
twelve  moons  her  period  of  mourning  is  over,  and 
she  may  again  arrange  her  hair,  don  her  beads,  which 
have  been  removed  during  her  period  of  mourning, 
and  may  marry  again.  The  husband,  on  the  death 
of  his  squaw,  may  not  hunt  for  four  days,  and  for  a 
period  of  four  moons  must  appear  in  mourning, 
which  consists  in  the  removal  of  his  neck  handker- 


1 68     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

chiefs,  and  the  laying  aside  of  his  turban.  When  a 
death  occurs  in  one  band  or  settlement,  the  news  is 
not  communicated  to  the  other  bands  until  such  time 
as  it  is  convenient  for  a  messenger  to  be  sent. 

BROUGHT   BACK. 

About  fifteen  years  ago,  one  young  Indian  brave, 
Ko-nip-hat-cho  by  name,  stepped  beyond  the  Seminole 
law  and  asked  permission  to  live  with  a  white  man  at 
Fort  Myers,  Florida.  He  was  eagerly  received  by 
the  gentleman,  and  was  taught  much  of  the  English 
language  and  civilized  mode  of  living.  But  for  a 
Seminole  to  so  far  forget  the  teachings  of  his  fathers, 
as  to  wish  to  affiliate  with  the  white  race,  caused  the 
greatest  dissatisfaction  in  the  Indian  camps.  "  Talk 
after  talk  "  was  "  made  "  by  the  chiefs  as  they  met 
in  council  concerning  the  actions  of  this  bold  young 
Indian.  He  was  repeatedly  warned  to  return  to  the 
tribe.  They  even  threatened  to  kill  him  if  he  re 
fused  to  do  so.  At  length,  however,  artifice  suc 
ceeded,  where  all  else  had  failed.  The  daughter  of 
Charles  Osceola  was  promised  to  him  for  a  wife  if 
he  would  but  return  to  his  people  and  once  more  don 
the  costume  of  his  race.  No  Indian  girl  in  all  the 
nation  could  boast  of  the  beauty  of  Nan-ces-o-wee ; 
damask  and  dark,  with  features  as  refined  as  the 
Caucasian,  a  form  superb  in  its  symmetry,  a  step  as 
graceful  as  the  doe's,  a  spirit  as  fearless  as  the 
falcon,  such  is  the  woman  who  moved  Ko-nip-hat- 
cho  from  his  foreign  alliance.  Ko-nip-hat-cho  has 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     169 

four  children,  is  contented  and  happy  in  his  forest 
home,  and  with  his  knowledge  is  an  important  person 
age  among  his  tribe.  His  wife  is  the  belle  of  the 
Seminole  nation.  All  the  Indian  braves  say,  "  Ko- 
nip-hat-cho's  squaw  heap  purty,"  and  in  their  native 
tongue  declare,  "  Nan-ces-o-wee  most  beautiful  of 
all  the  Seminole  squaws." 

MOUNDS. 

The  great  number  of  mounds  found  in  Florida 
afford  attractive  study  to  the  lover  of  scientific  re 
search.  These  mounds  are  of  many  shapes,  heights 
and  areas.  They  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  State, 
but  are  more  abundant  on  or  near  the  coast  and 
along  the  water  courses.  Every  few  months  some 
explorer,  armed  with  shovels,  picks  and  other  instru 
ments  used  in  excavating  mounds,  comes  before  the 
public  and  announces  new  discoveries,  based  on  new 
theories.  The  best  possible  explanation  of  the  source 
of  these  mounds  is  founded  on  the  theory  that  they 
are  of  Indian  origin.  One  scientist  has  aimed  a 
happy  stroke  at  writers  of  our  antiquities  when  he 
says,  "  Whoever  has  time  and  patience  and  will  use 
his  spade  and  his  eyes  together,  and  restrain  his 
imagination  from  running  riot  among  mounds,  forti 
fications,  etc.,  etc.,  will  find  very  little  more  than  the 
indications  of  rude  savages,  the  ancestors  of  the 
present  race."  No  better  theories  can  be  advanced 
than  those  of  Major  Powell,  who  says,  "  Remove  the 
Indian  element  from  the  problem  and  we  are  left 


i7o     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

without  a  hypothesis."  One  of  the  latest  mound 
excavations  in  Florida  was  made  by  Dr.  Moore.  A 
thousand  skeletons  were  unearthed  as  well  as  many 
articles  of  pottery,  and  other  things  considered  of 
great  value  by  the  explorer.  The  height  and  char 
acter  of  the  Florida  mounds  indicate  the  different 
uses  for  which  they  were  built.  These  mounds  vary 
from  three  feet  to  thirty  feet  in  height,  and  their 
areas  range  from  a  few  square  feet  to  four  hundred 
feet  square.  The  shell  mounds  which  are  numerous 
throughout  the  peninsula  seem  to  have  grown  with 
out  any  idea  of  purpose  by  the  builders,  and  are 
merely  accumulations  of  shells  and  soil.  Year  after 
year  it  was  the  custom  of  the  tribes  to  congregate  at 
certain  localities  for  their  festivals,  and,  living  on 
shell  fish,  the  shells  in  course  of  time  formed  vast 
mounds  or  elevations.  There  are  a  number  of 
small  mounds  on  the  outskirts  of  Kissimmee  City. 
Excavations  have  been  made,  and  pieces  of  skeletons, 
beads,  pottery  and  gold  trinkets  were  exhumed. 
Other  mounds  in  Florida  indicate  that  they  were 
built  for  tombs,  while  others,  being  composed  of 
strata  of  sand  and  other  soils,  from  their  height 
might  have  been  built  for  outlooks  or  signal  towers. 
Chroniclers  of  De  Soto's  day  describe  the  manner  in 
which  the  natives  brought  the  earth  to  these  spots 
and  formed  these  elevations.  The  Indians  say  in 
Seminole  war  days  these  mounds  were  used  to  build 
their  signal  fires  upon.  By  smoke  telegraphy,  they 
communicated  war  news  from  one  band  to  another. 
By  this  means,  with  their  fleet  Indian  runners,  who 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     171 

acted  also  as  spies,  the  entire  tribe  was  kept  informed 
of  the  innermost  workings  of  the  white  army.  In  ask 
ing  a  chief  about  the  burial  mounds,  he  answered, 
"  Long  time  ago  heap  many  people  here,"  and  that 
their  "  ancestors  buried  their  dead  in  mounds  so  that 
other  bands  coming  along  might  not  disturb  their 
bones."  Many  times  the  body  would  be  carried  a 
great  distance  in  order  to  bury  in  a  sepulchre  where 
rested  the  bones  of  their  ancestors.  "  Now,"  said 
the  chief,  "  Seminoles  no  fight,  not  too  many  peo 
ple;  "  and  he  buries  his  dead  near  his  camp. 

PICTURE   WRITING. 

The  Seminoles  have  no  picture  writing,  nor  do 
their  minds  in  any  way  run  to  art.  They  prefer  the 
rough  athletics  of  forest  life,  which  educates  them 
for  the  chase  and  makes  them  the  vigorous  and 
hardy  people  that  they  are.  They  would  sooner 
u  hook  "  an  alligator  than  paint  the  finest  picture  the 
brush  is  capable  of  producing,  and  yet  there  is  noth 
ing  in  the  white  man's  home  they  enjoy  more  than 
studying  the  pictures  of  a  book.  In  this  way  they 
may  be  taught  much.  Through  the  teaching  by  pic 
tures  they  have  learned  the  story  of  Pocahontas,  and 
of  William  Penn,  "  the  red  man's  brother."  On  an 
occasion  the  picture  of  a  heathen  Zuni  god  was  shown 
to  an  Indian  and  its  meaning  explained.  The  effect 
produced  would  have  done  credit  to  a  Christian  be 
liever. 


1.7.2     THE  SEMINOLES  DE  FLORIDA 


I 

MEDICINE. 


THe  Seminoles  have  a  superstitious  faith  in  the 
efficacy  of  certain  roots  and  herbs  known  to  their 
tribe,  the  knowledge  of  which  has  been  handed  down 
from  their  remote  ancestors.  The  curative  property 
of  these  plants  they  never  question.  A  few  of  the 
band  to-day  have  carefully  concealed  about  them 
small  pieces  of  a  root,  which  they  call  "  hil-lis-waw." 
This  root  was  gotten  by  some  of  their  tribe  sixty 
years  ago  when  their  people  were  encamped  at 
Tampa,  and  has  been  carefully  treasured  ever  since, 
having  been  handed  down  from  father  to  son.  Their 
faith  in  the  healing  powers  of  this  root  is  marvelous, 
their  idea  being  that  the  smallest  possible  piece  being 
made  into  a  tea  would  restore  life  from  death  almost. 
Those  fortunate  enough  to  own  a  small  piece  the  size 
of  a  pea  are  considered  to  have  a  great  treasure.  On 
testing  this  root  it  was  found  to  be  a  simple  plant, 
the  great  medicinal  qualities  of  which  exist  largely  in 
the  minds  of  the  Indians.  They  are  ignorant  as  to 
what  the  root  is  and  believe  it  to  be  very  valuable, 
saying,  "  So  much  (what  one  could  hold  in  the 
palm  of  his  hand)  cost  $25."  "  Long  time  ago," 
says  the  Seminole,  "chief  sick  heap  too  much;  by- 
and-by,  big  sleep  come.  Medicine  man  bring  hil-lis- 
waw,  fix  'um  quick.  Chief  get  well." 

A  late  incident  occurred,  showing  the  childlike 
faith  of  this  people.  The  little  son  of  Ko-nip-pat- 
cho  was  taken  very  ill  and  when  Seminole  medicinal 
efforts  failed,  the  father  learned  from  other  Indians 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     173 

that  their  white  friend  at  Kissimmee  City  could  pro 
cure  for  them  the  "  hil-lis-waw."  A  runner  was 
dispatched  from  the  Everglades  to  the  nearest  boat 
landing  (a  distance  of  160  miles  from  Kissimmee) 
where  a  note  could  be  sent  in  person.  This  note  was 
given  to  the  Captain  —  the  Indian  waiting  for  the 
return  of  the  steamer.  The  Indians  reported  after 
wards,  "  Boy  sick  ojus,  arms  cold  —  feet  cold  —  big 
sleep  come  soon  —  Indian  bring  medicine  from  white 
friend,  boy  no  die." 

Did  not  the  Great  Spirit,  Who  watches  over  His 
children,  reward  the  childlike  faith  of  these  In 
dians? 

Pais-haw  is  the  name  applied  to  a  plant  which  the 
Indians  regard  as  an  antidote  to  the  rattlesnake  bite. 
Old  settlers  tell  that  they  have  known  of  Indians  al 
lowing  themselves  to  be  bitten  by  a  rattler  on  a  wager 
of  a  silver  dollar.  The  Indians  after  being  bitten 
would  go  to  the  woods,  a  short  distance  away,  and 
procure  their  antidote.  Returning  they  would  ap 
parently  be  no  worse  for  the  bite.  Requesting  an 
Indian  to  procure  some  of  the  roots,  he  replied,  "  No 
find  'em  here  —  by-and-by  me  go  to  Okeechobee 
swamps,  find  'em  plenty." 

A  few  weeks  later  there  came  through  the  mail  a 
small  box  full  of  roots,  neatly  done  up  and  addressed 
by  the  Indian's  own  hand,  a  perfect  copy  of  name  and 
address  as  he  had  learned  to  write  it  during  his  visit. 

On  sending  the  roots  to  the  Smithsonian  Institute 
for  analysis,  the  secretary  reports  that  they  belong  to 
a  species  of  plant  known  as  Cy perus,  and  adds,  "  This 


174     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

is  one  of  the  large  number  of  reputed  cures  for  snake 
bites,  which  have  become  so  regarded  from  the  fact 
that  a  person  who  has  been  bitten  has  been  known  to 
recover  after  taking  the  drug."  The  use  of  water 
enters  largely  into  the  materia  medica  of  the  Semi- 
noles,  bathing  in  cold  water  being  one  of  their  prin 
cipal  treatments  for  fevers.  During  the  war  with 
the  whites  a  soldiers'  camp  was  found  deserted;  the 
Indians  immediately  appropriated  the  clothing,  blan 
kets  and  other  things.  Very  soon  the  loathsome  dis 
ease  of  small-pox  broke  out  among  them.  Ignorant 
as  to  the  nature  of  the  malady,  they  immediately  ap 
plied  their  bathing  remedy.  The  result  was  a  fright 
ful  mortality,  few  of  that  band  were  left  to  tell  the 
story.  In  this  instance,  the  Government  army  gained 
a  victory  over  their  foe  without  the  firing  of  a  gun. 

FLORIDA'S  ABIDING  WORDS  OF  BEAUTY  THE  HERIT 
AGE  OF  THE  ABORIGINAL  PATHFINDERS. 

All  through  Florida  the  musical  softness,  peculiar 
to  the  Seminole  dialect,  is  sustained  in  the  names  of 
the  lakes  and  rivers.  Each  having  a  history  descrip 
tive  of  its  character,  or  some  incident  connected  there 
with. 

The  old  names  of  the  chiefs  were  very  euphonious, 
such  as  Osceola,  Micanopy,  Tusteenuggee,  Coacoo- 
chee  and  Tallahassee.  These  are  being  displaced  by 
names  adopted  by  the  whites,  such  as  Billy  Ham, 
Tommy  John  and  Billy  Buster.  Accident,  too,  seems 
to  have  credited  the  aborigines  with  words  not  really 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     175 

their  own  if  it  be  true  that  "  Yankee  "  is  only  an 
attempt  made  by  the  Indian  to  speak  the  word  Eng 
lish,  and  that  pappoose  is  the  effort  of  the  natives  to 
say  "  baby."  The  symphonious  cadence  of  such 
words  as  Alabama,  Tuscaloosa,  Caloosahatchee  and 
Minnehaha  has  often  been  noticed. 

Tohope  Ke-liga  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  lakes  in  Florida,  its  Indian  significance 
meaning  "  fort  site."  All  around  the  lake  are  the 
old  hunting  grounds  of  the  Indians  and  memorable 
points  in  Seminole  war  fame.  To-day  the  Okeecho- 
bee  drainage  canal  connects  it  with  the  lakes  south, 
plantations  surrounding  its  shores;  the  thriving  city 
of  Kissimmee  is  situated  on  its  north  side  and  all  trace 
of  the  Seminole  has  vanished.  The  only  memorials 
he  has  left  are  his  words  firmly  embedded  in  the  his 
tory  of  his  conquerors.  Kissimmee  river  is  said  to 
have  taken  its  name  from  a  romantic  episode.  A 
young  Spanish  grandee  in  a  moment  of  impulse 
snatched  a  kiss  from  a  Seminole  girl,  and  the  fright 
ened  maiden's  childlike  plaint  to  her  mother  estab 
lished  the  name  of  the  river  on  whose  banks  the  kiss 
was  stolen  —  Kiss-him-mee. 

The  romance  attached  to  our  beautiful  Kissimmee 
river  gives  it  especial  interest  and  we  give  it  only  as 
a  traditional  meaning.  The  present  Indians  cannot 
give  the  English  rendition,  saying,  "  Indian  long, 
long  time  ago  named  the  river,"  which  is  corrob 
orated  by  the  Bureau  of  Ethnology,  Smithsonian  In 
stitution,  as  follows : 


176     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

In  reply  to  your  letter  I  regret  to  say  that  it  is  impossible 
to  give  you  the  meaning  of  "  Kissimmee."  Several  of  our 
ethnologists  think  the  word  dates  back  to  the  Ais  Caloosa, 
or  some  other  tribe  antedating  the  Seminoles,  in  which  case 
the  meaning  will  never  be  known. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

W.  H.  HOLMES, 

Chief. 

So  many  of  the  euphonious  words  abounding  in 
Florida  belong  to  the  ancient  tribes  and  were  picked 
up  by  the  Seminoles. 

An  interesting  bit  of  information  was  gotten  after 
much  care  and  questioning  from  Chief  Tallahassee 
as  to  the  meaning  of  his  name -- Tallahassee  being 
only  a  nickname,  or  white  man's  name  for  him  — 
his  Indian  name  being  Fo-so-wa-los-te-nock-ee,  mean 
ing  chief  of  the  Bird  gens  or  tribe. 

The  origin  of  the  name  of  Florida's  State  capital 
dates  back  to  the  days  that  are  but  traditions  to  the 
Seminole. 

As  the  Seminole  interprets,  "  Long,  long  time 
ago,"  many  Indians  and  houses  were  on  the  site  where 
the  city  of  Tallahassee  now  stands. 

One  day,  as  the  tradition  goes,  all  the  Indians  left. 
Some  time  after,  some  Indians  came  along,  Seminoles 
presumably,  and  seeing  many  houses  —  but  Indians 
"  hiepus  "  (gone),  exclaimed,  "  Tallahassee  "— "  all 
gone  or  deserted." 

We-la-ka  is  the  Indian  name  for  the  St.  John  river 
and  describes  it  so  graphically  that  the  old  Spaniards 
retrograded  when  they  named  the  u  river  of  lakes  " 


O      ^ 

Q      G 


o    •= 

g  ^ 


Q 

% 
W 

M 

H 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     177 

for  their  patron  saint.  Ock-la-wa-ha,  "  crooked 
water,"  appropriately  describes  the  most  crooked 
stream  in  America.  Okeechobee,  with  her  vast  ex* 
panse  of  water  and  over-hanging  mists,  in  Seminole 
significance  means  "  the  place  of  big  water."  With- 
la-coo-chee,  so  memorable  in  Seminole  war  days  as 
the  place  of  Osceola's  strategic  movements,  is  a  long 
but  very  narrow  stream,  meaning,  in  the  Seminole 
tongue,  "  Little  Big  river."  Alachua,  "  the  big  jug 
without  a  bottom,"  We-Kiva,  "  mystery,"  and  so  on 
all  over  the  Peninsula  do  we  find  names  preserved 
which  mark  the  wanderings  of  the  picturesque  Aborig 
ines. 

The  unwritten,  but  highly  poetical,  language  of  the 
Florida  Indians,  should  be  incorporated  into  school- 
craft  form  and  preserved  with  the  archives  of  his 
tory  for  future  generations.  One  who  has  heard  the 
war  shouts,  their  mythological  tales,  the  words  ac 
companying  their  dancing  tunes,  or  listened  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  with  breathless  wonder  to  the 
heart-moving  dirges  sung  by  wailing  women  as  they 
move  around  the  corpse  of  some  dead  member, 
the  whole  scene  lit  up  by  the  flickering  flames  of  the 
lurid  camp  fire,  cannot  doubt  but  that  the  Florida 
Indian  has  a  literature,  and  the  white  race  is  to  blame 
for  its  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  unwritten  but 
priceless  productions  of  a  savage  race. 

The  linguistic  perfection  of  the  Seminole  language, 
with  its  fluent,  oratorical  powers,  shows  itself  in  every 
speech  or  talk  ever  made  to  the  white  man. 

With  linguistic  research,  the  scientist  readily  finds 


178     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

that  man  does  not  invent  language  any  more  than  a 
birds  does  its  twittering  or  a  tree  its  leaves.  It  re 
quires  a  whole  nation  to  produce  a  language. 

Of  the  world's  famous  orators  we  have  our  De 
mosthenes  of  the  Greek,  Cicero  of  the  Roman,  Eng 
land's  great  Gladstone,  America  with  her  Calhoun, 
Clay  and  Webster;  but  as  yet  has  the  world  ever 
found  greater  eloquence  than  in  the  "  talks  "  of  the 
famous  Indian  chiefs? 

Red  Jacket,  on  the  religion  of  the  white  man  and 
the  red  race,  is  a  marvel  of  eloquence.  Then  what 
shall  we  say  of  Tecumseh,  the  great  Shawnee,  as 
he  delivered  his  famous  talk  to  General  Harrison,  or 
Black  Hawk,  the  captive,  in  his  plea  before  General 
Street? 

In  dealing  with  the  Seminole  language  we  meet 
with  long  words  and  mammoth  expressions.  The 
Seminole  greeting,  "  Ha-tee-eten-chee-hick-cha-hit-is- 
chay,"  sounds  formidable,  yet  it  only  means  "  Glad 
to  see  you."  These,  with  well-understood  Indian 
phrases,  such  as  "  burying  the  tomahawk,"  "  going 
on  the  warpath,"  we  employ  familiarly  without  a 
thought  of  the  tribe  we  have  dispossessed.  The  time 
for  studying  the  aborigines  of  America  will  soon  be 
over.  Only  remnants  of  the  tribes  remain  among  us. 
Old  myths  and  customs  are  being  displaced  by  new 
ones,  and  we  can  truly  see  that  the  red  man's  inherit 
ance  is  nearing  the  horizon  of  its  destiny. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     179 

THE  SEMINOLE'S  RECESSIONAL. 

When  the  last  Seminole  goes,  he  will  in  every  sense 
be  the  last.  He  will  leave  no  history ;  neither  monu 
ment.  His  narrow  path  through  the  Savannah  lasts 
no  longer  than  the  doe's  road  to  the  ford  of  the 
stream.  His  race  have  had  their  joys,  their  triumphs 
and  their  defeats,  and  then  been  swept  into  oblivion. 

Like  the  white  plumed  egret  of  the  vast  forests  of 
the  Everglades,  he  will  pass,  like  the  mist.  As  mem 
ories  come  up,  we  hear  the  faint  rustle  of  the  leaves 
and  see  the  dusky  forms  of  those  ancient  people  as 
they  glided  through  the  leaf-carpeted  aisles  of  the 
forests.  We  see  the  happy  wigwam  homes,  gleaming 
in  the  red  flames  of  the  camp  fire  and  hear  the  soft 
lullabies  of  the  crooning  mothers;  the 'dusky  hero 
of  the  chase  returns  game-laden  from  the  hunt,  and, 
in  the  picture,  framed,  as  it  were,  by  the  boundaries 
of  nature,  we  see  long  lines  of  moving  life,  the  grace 
ful  forms  of  thousands  of  flying  creatures,  while  the 
song  of  the  forest  minstrel  hallows  the  wooded  si 
lence.  //  is  the  land  of  the  Seminole. 

Thou,  Florida,  with  thy  laughing  waters  and  sunny 
skies,  art  the  Seminole's  elysium.  Thy  spreading 
palms  form  the  only  canopy  he  desires.  To  part 
from  thy  loved  scenes  would  be  like  separating  from 
his  kindred.  No,  under  the  shadows  of  the  live  oak 
and  the  magnolia  has  he  lived,  under  their  shadows 
let  him  die. 

As  the  patient  Seminole,  with  swelling  heart 
"  moves  a  little  farther,  and  yet  a  little  farther,"  he 


i8o     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

goes  not  willingly,  but  with  a  sad  heart  and  a  slow 
step.  Micanopy,  when  told  by  the  officers  that  he 
might  choose  between  emigration  and  death!,  an 
swered,  "  Kill  me  here  then,  kill  me  quickly." 
The  same  spirit  is  manifested  by  the  Seminole  to-day 
when  he  says,  "  We  have  never  done  anything  to  dis 
grace  the  land  of  our  birth,  nor  the  honor  of  an  In 
dian.  For  fifty  years  the  pledge  to  our  great  father 
has  been  kept  inviolate.  Our  tongues  are  not  forked 
and  our  feet  tread  not  in  the  white  man's  path.  We 
threw  away  the  rifle  and  grasped  hands  with  the 
white  skin.  We  know  the  white  man's  power,  and 
though  we  love  peace,  we  fear  not  death.  We  will 
not  leave  the  land  of  our  birth.  The  Great  Spirit 
loves  his  red  children,  and  says  to  them,  "Your 
bones  must  rest  with  the  dust  of  your  fathers." 
Brothers,  when  the  pale  face  came  to  the  shores  of 
our  land,  our  fathers  made  him  a  fire  from  their 
flint  rock  to  warm  by,  and  gave  him  hominy  to  stay 
his  hunger.  Brothers,  the  Seminole  wishes  no  harm 
to  the  white  race,  but  his  heart  heaves  and  surges  as 
it  says,  "Let  us  alone;  let  us  alone.  Though  you 
slay  us,  you  shall  not  move  us." 

"  A  kingdom  as  full  of  people  as  hives  are  of 
bees,"  wrote  the  first  discoverer  to  King  Ferdinand. 
Where  are  they  now  ? 

There  is  something  intensely  sad  in  the  picture  of 
these  sons  of  the  monarchs  of  that  race,  who,  for 
centuries  held  sway  on  the  slopes  of  the  Atlantic. 
As  the  Stars  and  Stripes  proudly  herald  liberty  and 
independence  to  the  comers  of  all  nations,  how  can 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     181 

we  be  unmindful  of  that  "  chanty  which  begins  at 
home?"  The  panorama  of  Indian  history  passes 
before  us,  and  we  see  nothing  more  tragic  than  the 
pictures  of  the  wrongs  endured  by  the  native  Amer 
icans.  Let  us  then  deal  kindly  with  the  tribes  we 
have  dispossessed,  whose  removal  to  the  swamps  has 
made  room  for  our  own  enlargement.  In  the  per 
son  of  these  descendants  of  a  now  disinherited  race, 
who  with  shy,  frightened  faces  still  hide  in  the  wilder 
ness,  we  may  yet  atone  in  part  for  the  tragedies  of 
the  past  by  making  Florida  a  free,  safe  and  Christian 
home  for  this  patient  and  long-persecuted  remnant  of 
a  once-powerful  Indian  nation. 

May  the  almoner  of  justice,  under  the  guidance  of 
an  overruling  God,  protect  and  keep  and  cherish  these 
red  children  of  the  forest  homes. 


SUPPLEMENT 

The  Least  Known  Wilderness  of  America 


THE  LEAST  KNOWN  WILDERNESS  OF 
AMERICA 

TOGETHER   WITH   THE   STORY  OF  THE  RED   INHABI 
TANTS 

WOULD  you  see  the  Land  of  the  Seminole?  Then 
visit  the  Everglades  of  Florida  and  in  the  heart  of 
this  mystic  region — a  very  uncharted  wilderness — 
you  will  find  a  thrilling  beauty,  and  yet  a  lurking 
terror;  the  dark,  cypress,  laden  trees  are  massed  to 
gether,  now  swaying,  now  quivering,  as  the  Gulf 
winds  circle  around  them,  and  they  seem  like  human 
things,  crowding  together  like  shuddering  people, 
frightened  by  ghosts. 

This  is  the  "Big  Cypress" — the  last  foothold  of 
the  vanishing  red  man  of  America. 

This  tropic  jungle  of  islets,  lagoons  and  cutting 
saw-grass  prairies  is  an  unexplored  treasure  house 
for  the  man  of  research — a  virgin  field  for  the  ad 
venturer,  in  short  a  tropic  mimosa,  with  its  secrets 
closely  held  against  the  disturbing  exploiter — yet 
awaiting,  with  sphinx-like  calmness,  the  intrepid 
traveller,  who  would  dare  to  explore  this  Least 
Known  Wilderness  of  America. 

Then  why  should  the  American  go  to  the  land 
of  the  Vikings  or  to  "Darkest  Africa"  for  themes? 

185 


1 86     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Florida  has  the  Everglades — grey,  misty,  water  cov 
ered. 

Scientists  have  crossed  these  "weird  drowned 
prairies"  as  a  ship  crosses  the  ocean,  yet  no  well 
defined  lines  have  been  made,  and  no  flagstaffs  mark 
the  trail  of  the  adventurous  explorer. 

The  Everglades,  properly  christened  with  the  red 
man's  name — Pay-hay-o-kee,  or  "Grass  Water 
Country,"  comprise  a  territory  of  more  than  5,000 
square  miles,  and,  while  considered  a  swamp,  the 
region  is  more  of  a  shallow  sea  or  lake,  thickly 
studded  with  thousands  of  islands,  which  are  cov 
ered  with  thickets  of  shrubbery  and  vines.  Aquatic 
flowers,  brilliant  butterflies  and  the  flutter  of  bird 
life  add  color  and  animation  to  the  scene. 

Here  and  there  in  the  mysterious  depths  of  the 
great  Florida  jungle  live  the  descendants  of  the 
bravest,  purest  blood  American  Indian — those  pa 
triots  who  refused,  nearly  a  century  ago,  to  desert 
their  country,  and,  escaping  capture  by  bloodhounds 
and  bullets,  hid  themselves  in  the  wilds  of  this  tan 
gled  Everglade  wilderness,  and  were  for  years  lost 
to  the  historian. 

All  aboriginal  history  holds  much  interest,  but 
none  is  more  replete  with  the  tragedies  and  ro 
mance  that  go  to  make  up  life  wherever  it  is  lived 
than  the  shadowy  history  of  the  self-exiled  Semi- 
noles  about  whom  so  little  is  known  and  who  have 
lived  this  jungle  life  as  lords  of  a  conquered  race — 
proud  heroic,  with  blood  as  pure  as  the  race  who 
governed  the  territory  long  before  Columbus  sailed 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA      187 

from  Palos.  Monarchs  of  America's  primeval  con 
tinent,  mystery  envelops  the  Seminoles'  past  and  the 
historian  can  only  catch  glimpse  of  the  fleeting  fig 
ures  of  the  ancestors  of  this  peculiar  people,  who 
wrote  no  history,  except  by  deeds. 


THE  LAND  OF  THE  SEMINOLE 

The  Caucasian  has  battered  at  the  gates  of  this 
great  American  Jungle  for  nearly  four  centuries, 
but  some  impregnable  force,  directed  by  a  Higher 
Power  than  commercialized  graft  or  the  greed  of 
selfish  men,  has  kept  the  gates  secure.  It  is  the  Land 
of  the  Seminolef 

The  Seminole  knows  every  foot  of  this  intermi 
nable  morass.  The  stars  are  his  compass;  the  fan 
tastic  tracery  of  canals,  cut  by  his  ancestors  through 
this  chaotic  tangle  of  grass  water  country,  are  his 
highways.  The  appearance  of  the  remote  recesses 
of  the  Everglades  is  unlike  that  of  any  other  region 
on  the  globe  and  is  certainly  the  most  bewildering 
and  remarkable  on  this  continent. 

EVERGLADE   SCENARIO 

Were  we  to  unroll  the  reel  of  a  photo-drama  of 
the  Everglades,  we  would  go  back  thousands  of 
years,  when  the  great  billows  of  the  ocean  rolled 
over  the  space  now  occupied  by  this  territory;  we 
would  see  the  millions  of  busy  builders  of  that  age, 
the  tiny  coral  polyps,  working  on  the  reefs  and 


1 88     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

shoals;  we  would  look  again  and  see  the  tempestu 
ous  storms  and  hear  the  thunder  of  the  circling 
winds  and  behold  the  "breaking  up  of  the  great  foun 
tain  of  the  deep,"  forcing  the  sand  from  its  depths, 
until  a  giant  dam  was  built  and  the  great  ocean  was 
excluded.  Then  it  was  that  the  shimmering  waters 
of  Lake  Okeechobee,  "the  place  of  the  Big  Water" 
in  Seminole  dialect,  became  an  inland  sea. 

We  may  turn  the  slide  and  see  the  animals  of  pre 
historic  days  basking  in  the  sunshine  or  bathing  in 
the  limpid  waters.  The  fame  of  Florida  as  a  health 
resort  was  not  unknown  to  the  animals  of  those 
ancient  days,  for  the  remains  of  these  monsters  are 
exhibited  today  in  national  museums,  with  labels 
reading  that  "they  belonged  to  animals,  probably 
mammoths,  that  lived  10,000  to  50,000  years  ago." 

Film  makers  delight  in  taxing  the  flights  of  the 
mind  and  Florida's  drama  was  silenced  for  thou 
sands  of  years.  The  reel  makes  another  turn  and 
we  see  a  Twentieth  Century  renaissance  of  adven 
ture,  optimism  and  commercialism.  Engineering 
expeditions  entered  this  region  to  make  surveys  for 
drainage  and  land  selling  corporations — the  land 
was  sold  from  the  enticing  blue  paper  plat — but  ac 
cording  to  America's  best  engineering  corps  a  large 
area  of  this  tropic  jungle  still  remained  terra 
incognita — unsurveyed — each  surveying  corps  wisely 
barricading  against  criticism  of  failure  by  publish 
ing  to  the  speculative  world,  that  upon  "800  square 
miles  of  this  unexplored  country  no  white  man  had 
ever  placed  foot." 


Coacooche«.  (Wild  Cat ) 


COACOOCHEE 

From  an  old  print 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     189 


FEDERAL   GOVERNMENT  INVESTIGATES   LAND   DEALS 

Like  a  bolt  of  lightning  from  a  clear  sky  came  the 
demand — from  the  United  States  Government,  in 
1913,  to  Florida's  high  officials — "Investigate — in 
vestigate!" 

Twenty  thousand  purchasers  of  lands  in  the  Ever 
glades,  backed  by  the  power  of  American  democ 
racy,  had  demanded  their  lands  or  the  return  of  their 
good  American  dollars.  The  Federal  Government, 
through  Congress,  exposed  the  crooked  deals  (the 
lands  still  being  under  water  and  unsurveyed)  made 
by  the  vampire  speculator,  with  the  result  that  an 
other  survey  was  ordered  and  the  Florida  State  gov 
ernment  put  sixty  men  into  the  Everglades  at  an 
expense  of  $40,000.  The  citizens  paid  for  the  sur 
vey  and  U8oo  square  miles"  still  remain — unsur 
veyed!  Less  is  known  and,  it  can  be  said  without 
fear  of  contradiction,  less  is  "told"  to  the  reading 
world  of  inquiries  in  this  2Oth  century  than  was 
given  to  history  four  hundred  years  ago. 

For  best  accounts  touching  the  interior  of  the 
Everglades  we  must  have  recourse  to  historical  docu 
ments.  From  French  delineations  upon  old  maps 
as  well  as  from  Spanish  and  English  authorities,  we 
learn  that  more  than  three  hundred  years  ago  Flori 
da's  Everglade  country  wa*s  cut  up  by  large  rivers, 
extensive  ponds,  lagoons  and  lakes  which  connected 
with  each  other. 

That  the  drainage  of  the  Everglades  was  contem- 


1 9o     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

plated  by  the  authorities  of  the  Spanish  government, 
is  an  established  historical  fact  and  as  late  as  1840, 
during  the  Seminole  War,  a  canal  was  found  large 
enough  to  float  a  large  craft.  This  piece  of  engi 
neering  work  is  credited  to  the  Spaniards,  but  owing 
to  the  treacherous  straits  of  Florida's  coast,  interior 
navigation  was  abandoned  and  the  Spaniards  and 
the  Frenchman  left  the  country  to  the  intrepid  and 
enterprising  Indian,  whose  knowledge  of  the  water 
world  of  the  Glades  was  then,  as  is  now,  superior 
to  his  white  engineering  brother;  for  the  Indian 
knows  every  foot  of  this  interminable  morass  and 
travels  through  these  uncharted  waters  in  his  "dug 
out"  canoe,  with  no  compass  but  the  stars  overhead, 
as  he  is  guided  by  the  whispering  winds  brought  him 
from  the  Great  Spirit. 

CROSSING   THE    EVERGLADES   BY  AEROPLANE 

A  recent  experience  told  by  an  aviator  belong 
ing  to  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  flying  squadrons  and  au 
thorized  by  the  War  Department  at  Washington, 
graphically  pictures  a  modern  view  of  the  Ever 
glades,  and  illustrates,  too,  that  the  same  hospitality 
extended  by  the  Red  Man  to  the  bewildered  Span 
iards,  as  they  landed  on  these  wild  and  unexplored 
shores  four  centuries  ago,  may  be  found  in  the  heart 
of  the  jungle  and  marsh  wilderness  of  the  Seminole 
camps  today. 

The  airmen  were  attempting  to  "cross  the 
Everglades"  in  order  to  make  a  shorter  flight 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     191 

between  the  aviation  fields  of  Florida.  Encounter 
ing  a  storm,  they  were  compelled  to  make  a  "forced 
landing"  and  headed  for  the  nearest  open  space  in 
the  Big  Cypress  country,  which  proved  to  be  soft 
muck,  where  the  ship  turned  over,  on  its  back, 
wrecked  and  submerged  in  the  black  water. 

The  aviators  wandered,  hungry  and  exhausted, 
for  two  days,  finally  finding  a  camp  inhabited  by 
Seminole  Indians.  There  they  received  a  welcome, 
and  food  and  shelter  were  given. 

The  Seminoles,  lurking  in  their  swamp-hedged 
wigwams,  fear  the  intrusion  of  the  white  man,  but 
like  their  ancient  forbears  they  stand  ever  ready, 
with  Samaritan-like  kindness,  to  help  the  white 
brother  in  an  hour  of  necessity.  The  airmen  were 
later  piloted  by  the  red  men  through  their  hidden 
channels  to  a  dredge-boat  where  aid  was  secured 
and  they  soon  reached  the  Marine  fields  at  Miami. 
With  the  help  of  the  Indians,  who  made  frequent 
trips  to  the  base  camps  for  equipments,  the  "fire  ship 
of  the  clouds"  was  "launched";  the  propeller  took 
the  air,  droning  a  new  tune  to  the  silent  Seminoles, 
who  say  "fire  ships  littly  too  much,  to  cross  the  West 
Wind  of  the  Great  Spirit." 

This  aquatic  jungle,  whose  secrets  are  known  only 
to  the  Indian,  has  not  changed  since  the  day  Colum 
bus  found  a  new  world  for  Castile  and  Leon,  as  a 
brief  extract  from  the  airmen's  report  verifies : 

"The  territory  in  which  we  made  our  landing  is 
known  as  the  Everglades  (Big  Cypress).  Its  same 
ness  is  appalling;  just  one  small  cypress  hammock 


192     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

after  another;  water  and  mud  everywhere;  innumer 
able  mosquitoes,  alligators,  water  moccasins  and 
black  snakes.  Here  and  there  a  hammock  would  be 
found  with  a  rock  base  and  on  some  of  these  bases 
Seminole  Indians  eke  out  an  existence.  The  mos 
quitoes  attacked  us  in  hordes.  We  drank  no  water, 
for  fear  it  might  be  infected  with  malaria  germs  or 
some  other  swamp  fever,  nor  had  any  food  been 
found.  .  .  .  We  were  compelled  to  spend  the  night 
again  in  the  swamp,  this  time  on  ground  covered 
with  an  inch  or  more  of  water,  a  maze  of  water  and 
prairie  ways,  with  treacherous  under-currents  and 
impregnable  barriers. " 

The  solemn  silence  of  this  mysterious  swamp  is 
only  broken  by  the  splash  of  the  Indian  canoe,  but 
here  the  Seminole  lingers,  giving  a  background  of 
tragedy  and  romance  to  aboriginal  America. 

EVERGLADE   GEYSER 

Let  the  captain  of  an  air  ship  rest  his  craft  in 
mid-air  and  through  his  glasses  gaze  down  upon 
this  aquatic  jungle.  Near  the  centre  of  the  Glades, 
according  to  public  .documents  filed  in  Washing 
ton,  is  an  immense  spring  rising  from  the  earth,  cov 
ering  an  extent  of  several  acres  and  throwing  up 
large  quantities  of  water  with  great  force,  supplying 
the  Everglades  with  torrential  quantities  of  water. 

With  the  sun's  rays  glinting  on  this  "Everglade 
Geyser,"  with  the  evaporation  caused  by  the  intense 
heat  of  this  tropical  land,  as  it  meets  the  cooling 


THE  LATEST  PHOTOGRAPH  OF  BILLY  BOWLEGS, 
Taken  in  /<?// 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     193 

waters  of  some  underground  cavern,  a  grey  mist  is 
formed  and  hangs  over  the  area.  As  the  white,  wan 
dering  clouds  from  the  fathomless  cavern  meet  the 
starry  skies,  the  Seminole  sees  in  this  phenomenon 
of  nature  the  "Breath  of  the  Great  Spirit." 

When  the  torrential  rains,  a  characteristic  of  the 
Everglade  country,  come,  flooding  the  entire  area, 
the  Queen  of  the  Water  Kingdom  picks  up  the  rip 
pling  waters  as  they  course  over  the  rock-bound  bot 
tom  and  like  an  elfish  sprite  hurls  them  into  the 
lakes  and  rivers,  where  they  dash  relentlessly  on 
until  they  reach  the  subterranean  outlets. 

Until  the  white  engineer  finds  ways  and  means 
to  control  subterranean  flood  gates,  to  control  water 
forces  whose  source  lies  hundreds  of  miles  away, 
or  to  toss  away  lightly  the  very  God  of  Nature's 
balance  wheel,  Everglade  drainage  in  the  heart  of 
the  Big  Cypress  must  continue  to  be  a  stupendous 
operation. 

The  subject  of  the  reclamation  of  this  "The  Least 
Known  Wilderness  of  America"  has  been  a  "politi 
cal  football"  for  more  than  a  score  of  years  and 
has  become  a  theme  of  nation-wide  discussion.  Un 
til  Florida  populates  her  millions  of  tillable  and 
untenanted  acres,  certainly  she  need  not  allure  with 
tempting  word  pictures  the  problematical  and  uncer 
tain  Everglades. 

Thousands  of  purchasers  of  lands  in  these  tropi 
cal  swamps — lands  unsurveyed  and  submerged — still 
wait  for  the  answer  to  the  riddle  of  the  Okee-cho-bee 


I94     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Sphinx,  who  alone  holds  fast  the  key  to  this  "Egypt 
of  America." 

Florida's  Everglade  disaster,  which  was  commer 
cialized  with  land  grabbers'  outfit  in  entering  the 
Seminoles'  heritage,  violated  every  humane  and 
brotherly  law  of  a  commonwealth.  The  chaotic 
days  that  followed  the  Federal  investigation,  re 
tarded  the  progress  of  the  State  fully  a  decade  of 
years,  and  Florida,  the  land  of  singing  birds,  limpid 
waters  and  ugolden  apples,"  learned  the  bitterness 
of  the  prophet's  rebuke  when  he  said:  "Thou 
shouldst  not  have  entered  the  Gate  of  my  People  in 
the  day  of  their  calamity  nor  have  laid  hands  on  their 
substance  in  the  days  of  their  distress" 


SEMINOLE    HISTORY   REVIEWED 

With  the  purchase  of  Florida  from  Spain  in  1821 
we  read  the  death  sentence  of  Seminole  independence 
— a  very  Iliad  of  tragedy  in  American  history. 
Prior  to  this,  the  Seminoles,  as  subjects  of  the  Span 
ish  crown,  were  permitted  to  become  a  nation  to 
themselves,  living  and  practicing  the  inalienable 
rights  of  independence,  honor  and  kindliness. 

For  three-quarters  of  a  century  these  dusky  pa 
triots  prospered,  owning  cattle,  slaves  and  planta 
tions.  Listen,  and  you  may  hear  the  tinkling  bells 
of  their  little  ponies  as  they  traveled,  caravan  style, 
carrying  their  wares  from  village  to  village.  Here, 
for  a  time,  in  the  secluded  fastnesses  of  the  wilder 
ness,  these  red  aborigines  lived  happily  because  away 


BILLY  BOWLEGS  AND  HIS  SISTER,  STEM-O-LA-KEE 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     195 

from  the  white  man's  power,  but  alas,  we  see  a  mock 
ing  travesty  in  our  cherished  ideals.  Soon  the  alien 
speculator  and  "carpet-bagger,"  with  bullets  and 
blood-hounds,  entered  the  State,  confiscating  their 
well  cultivated  fields  and  destroying  their  wigwam 
homes.  The  staccato  cry  of  "Move  on — move  on!" 
rang  in  the  ears  of  this  distracted,  primitive  people 
and,  like  sheep  before  the  rout  of  grey  timber  wolves, 
the  Seminoles  were  driven  on  into  the  more  desolate 
regions  of  the  great  morass.  Shattered  hamlets  and 
dull  ashen  camp  fires  blackened  the  once  peaceful  In 
dian  country.  Years  of  war  and  broken  treaties  fol 
lowed,  until  the  American  Nation  became  the  con 
querors  and  thousands  of  Seminoles  were  forced 
to  give  up  homes — life  itself,  and  be  exiled  to  a  cold 
and  unknown  Western  land. 

The  flame-lit  reel  makes  a  turn  and  we  see,  by  the 
imperishable  magic  of  the  camera,  a  silent  drama 
of  Florida  history.  We  see  a  little  band  of  about 
one  hundred  Indians  left  in  the  Glade  country  in 
1841.  Expedition  after  expedition  failed  to  corral 
these  patriots,  whose  greatest  crime  (?)  was  love  of 
country,  kindred  and  reverence  for  the  graves  of 
their  fathers.  Like  animals  sorely  stricken,  creep 
ing  to  their  lair,  these  red  mothers  and  little  chil 
dren  followed  the  slow  tread  of  the  stoical  braves 
and  sought  refuge  in  the  secret  recesses  of  their 
Glade  country. 

Among  the  archives  of  Government  statistics,  one 
record  is  enough  to  stir  the  sympathy  and  stimulate 


196     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

pity  for  the  vanquished  red  dwellers  of  the  Ever 
glade  country.    The  reel  makes  a  turn  and  we  read : 

Record  5.  "With  200  men  we  ascended  Shark  River 
into  the  Everglades.  Here  we  met  Captain  Burke  of  Artil 
lery,  with  67  men.  *  *  *  Joining  forces,  we  proceeded  to 
Te-at-ka-hatch-ees,  and  discovered  two  Indians  in  a  canoe. 
The  Indians  escaped,  but  we  secured  their  packs,  cooking 
utensils,  provisions  and  their  canoes.  We  followed  them 
three  days  until  the  trail  was  lost.  After  destroying  the 
growth  of  their  fields,  consisting  of  50  to  60  acres  of  pump 
kins,  beans  and  peas,  etc.,  we  continued  to  sea. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JOHN  T.  MCLAUGHLIN, 

Lieutenant  Commanding  Expedition." 

From  the  beginning  of  time,  down  through  the 
long  centuries,  the  conscience  of  man  has  awakened, 
in  cycles,  as  it  were,  for  the  betterment  and  uplift 
of  humanity. 

A  decade  of  years  ago,  a  new  spirit  of  quick 
ening  prevailed  in  America  and  a  growing  in 
terest  in  Chief  Osceola's  long  neglected  people  be 
came  a  nation-wide  theme.  Pressure  from  Maine  to 
California  was  brought  upon  Florida's  state  of 
ficials,  and  a  rhythmic  sympathy  was  felt  for  the 
destiny  of  the  Seminole.  The  subject  was  presented 
to  the  Chief  Executive  and,  under  the  beneficent  rul 
ing  of  the  martyred  McKinley,  an  expedition  from 
the  United  States  Government  was  sent  into  the 
trackless  Everglades  to  select  and  survey  lands  for 
homes  for  the  long  persecuted  native  inhabitants. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     197 

Belated  justice  seemed  assured  and  in  the  year  1899 
the  Florida  Legislature  passed  a  bill  granting  the 
Seminoles  a  reservation  of  835,000  acres. 

This  act  was  approved  by  the  Governor,  but  be 
tween  the  time  when  President  McKinley's  special 
government  commission  carefully  selected  these  lands 
in  1898 — an  interval  of  less  than  a  year — this  par 
ticular  tract  disappeared  (?)  from  the  list  of  pub 
lic  domain  and  went  into  private  ownership. 

The  bill,  so  inspiring  in  humanity,  contained  a 
clause  in  these  days  of  Everglade  jests  called  a 
"joker."  Like  the  eagle,  as  he  sweeps  down  the 
lamb  feeding  at  its  mother's  side,  so  the  spoils- 
taker,  with  "land  grabbers'  "  outfit,  swept  down  upon 
the  inheritance  of  the  red  children  of  Florida,  not 
only  violating  the  sanctity  of  Florida's  citizenship  but 
even  gathering  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  Florida's 
bounteous  table,  and  the  livid  bar  sinister  of  treach 
ery  again  stained  the  escutcheon  of  Florida. 

Years  passed,  when  pressure  was  once  more 
brought  upon  Florida's  inhumanity  toward  her  na 
tive  people,  and  the  legislative  body  of  1913  passed 
a  bill,  unanimously  providing  235,000  acres  in  the 
Everglades  for  the  Seminoles.  Alas !  for  the  pathos 
of  the  story.  On  the  very  last  day  of  the  session, 
Governor  Park  Trammell,  untouched  by  the  needs 
of  these  long  persecuted  people,  and  in  full  sym 
pathy  and  co-operation  with  the  politicians'  strong 
anti-Indian  feelings,  vetoed  the  bill,  not  only  denying 
the  citizenry  of  Florida  the  inalienable  right  to  up 
hold  the  dignity,  honor  and  patriotism  of  Florida, 


198     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

but  denying  these  oppressed  natives  as  much  as  a 
spadeful  of  earth  to  cover  their  corpses.  What 
mathematician  can  ever  estimate  the  result  of  the 
power  used  by  the  Governor  at  this  critical  time? 
By  this  stroke  of  the  pen,  these  aboriginal  Amer 
icans  again  became  the  victims  of  a  cowardly  treason. 

A  great  State  like  Florida,  whose  honor  is  far 
greater  than  her  land  possesions,  need  not  vilify 
the  history  and  lives  of  her  native  people ;  there  has 
been  much  more  than  money  involved  in  the  hand 
lings  of  the  Everglade  Country,  and  a  handful  of 
speculators,  who  said :  "There  is  no  land  left  for 
the  Seminole — let  him  'make  bricks  without  straw/  ' 
found,  as  later  records  show,  that  a  Florida  dem 
ocracy,  quickened  by  the  spirit  of  human  kindness, 
checkmated  the  Everglade  spoils-taker,  whose  fetish 
has  been  the  dollar  mark,  and  later  through  the  Leg 
islature  gave  to  the  native  owners  land  upon  which 
they  may  find  peace  and  a  refuge. 

Again  in  1915  an  Indian  bill  was  introduced,  but 
certain  active  land  speculators,  known  to  be  strongly 
opposed  to  the  Seminoles  having  any  land  in  Florida, 
arrived  at  Florida's  capital  on  schedule  time,  and  the 
bill,  as  per  Seminole  dialect,  went  into  a  "big  sleep," 
and  the  story  of  the  Seminole  came  before  the  world 
as  rivaling  that  of  the  "Man  Without  a  Country.'7 
And,  throughout  the  country,  the  printed  pages  of 
journalism  carried  headlines  which  read:  "Within 
the  Bounds  of  America,  'We  Have  a  Little  Belgium 
of  Our  Own.'  " 

At  this  point  in  Florida's  history,  the  white  Amer- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     199 

ican  heard,  as  it  were,  the  Seminole's  wounded  cry: 
"Why  have  the  lands  of  our  fathers  been  taken  from 
usf  And  as  the  dirge-like  wail  of  the  oppressed 
Seminole  echoed  and  re-echoed  through  the  solemn 
stillness  of  the  mysterious  Everglades,  it  was  trans 
muted  into  a  very  symphony  of  sorrow.  The  mourn 
ful  echoes  of  the  cry  of  this  stricken  race,  like  ether 
waves,  permeated  every  corner  of  America,  until 
Democracy  answered  thus:  "If  this  America  of  ours, 
by  the  furling  and  unfurling  of  her  Star  Spangled 
Banner,  can  say  to  the  war-mad  nations  of  Europe 
'Touch  not  my  people,'  surely  she  will  look  into  her 
galaxy  of  States  and  see  to  it  that  the  banner  of  her 
own  flowery  Florida  shall  no  longer  be  besmirched 
with  a  blot  caused  by  the  political  profiteers  of  the 
State ;  and  Humanity,  dignifying  brotherly  kindness, 
challenged  the  white  man's  hidden  records  and  with 
uplifted  hand  pointed  the  way  to  a  just  solution  of 
the  Seminole's  rights. 


THE  1917  LAND  BILL. 

The  Climax  of  Twenty  Years'  Struggle,  When 
the  Seminoles  are  Granted  Homes  in  the  Historic 
Stronghold  of  Their  Ancestors. 


Almost  simultaneously  with  America's  entrance 
into  the  great  European  conflict,  as  the  "Defender  of 
Liberty,  for  the  liberation  of  the  oppressed  nations, " 
the  Florida  Legislature  convened.  The  hour  had 


200     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

struck  for  the  humanity  of  the  whole  world.  We 
still  feel  the  sobbing  clutch  in  our  throats,  and  we 
hear,  as  if  but  yesterday,  the  tread  of  our  khaki- 
clad  youths  as  they  marched  to  the  colors  of  liberty; 
we  see  the  furling  and  unfurling  of  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner;  the  hearts  of  the  American  people  wakened 
to  the  love  of  humanity;  all  these  stood  out  like  bea 
con  lights  in  the  springtime  of  1917. 

In  Florida,  like  a  star  shining  through  a  clouded 
sky,  was  the  passage  of  the  "Seminole  Land  Bill" 
without  a  dissenting  vote,  giving  to  the  Florida 
Indians  approximately  100,000  acres  of  land. 

This  was  a  fitting  climax  to  the  years  of  work  by 
the  Seminoles'  active  white  friends  in  Florida.  The 
air  had  become  vibrant  all  over  the  country  for  the 
betterment  of  Florida's  homeless  aborigines. 

The  Indian  Rights  Association,  national  in  its 
scope,  had  sent  a  special  committee  to  the  Seminole 
camps  and  learned  the  circumstances  of  Florida's 
wards,  reporting  to  the  Government  the  true  con 
ditions.  The  camera  pictures  and  search-light  truths 
of  this  organization  barred  censorship. 

Later,  and  just  prior  to  the  convening  of  the  Leg 
islature,  a  Congressional  committee  was  sent  by  Con 
gress  to  ascertain  at  first  hand  the  real  condition,  as 
well  as  the  legal  status  of  the  Seminoles,  and  the  re 
port  of  this  committee  gave  official  proof  that  uThe 
Seminoles'  rights  to  lands  in  Florida  were  made  a 
part  of  the  transfer  by  the  Spanish  Government  to 
the  United  States  in  1821,"  and  that  if  justice  were 
carried  out  as  specified  by  the  United  States  Gov- 


OSCEOLA— THE  NAPOLEON  OF  THE  SEMINOLES 

From  the  famous  Catlin  portrait,  by  courtesy  of  the  American  Bureau  of  Eth 
nology.  "  I  painted  him  precisely  in  the  costume  in  which  he  stood  for 
his  picture,  even  to  a  string  and  a  trinket"  (CATLIN). 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     201 

ernment  treaty  rights  of  1843  a^  °f  *ne  lands  of 
Southeastern  Florida  (approximately  5,000,000 
acres),  belonged  to  the  Seminoles. 

Of  the  100,000  acres  granted  by  the  Florida  Leg 
islature  to  the  Indians,  only  about  five  per  cent,  is 
supposed  to  be  tillable,  but  it  is  at  this  time  the 
best  available  land,  and  the  records  of  Florida  for 
the  calendar  year  of  1917  will  go  down  into  the 
long  ages  as  being  the  most  humane  act  ever  done 
by  a  Tallahassee  legislature,  and  the  Flower  State 
may  look  back  upon  a  "Century's  Dishonor"  with 
sorrow,  yet  with  triumph,  because  she  has  rectified  a 
long  standing  injustice  and  has  given  to  the  van 
quished  people  of  the  Everglades  a  refuge,  in  this 
late  hour  of  their  direst  necessity. 

The  reservation  thus  granted  is  the  long  worked 
for  and  century  old  home  of  the  Seminoles — the 
stronghold  occupied  by  their  forefathers,  situated  on 
the  Southwestern  coast  of  Florida,  near  the  "  10,000 
Islands,"  including  within  its  boundaries  the  beauti 
ful,  palm-fringed  Shark  and  Harney  rivers.  Here 
many  of  the  Indians  are  living  today,  cultivating 
the  same  hammocks  from  which  their  ancestors  fled 
when  hunted  by  the  American  expedition  in  1841. 
Government  records  show  that  while  Colonel  Har 
ney  "with  his  marine  boats  and  artillery  and  his  en 
tire  force  of  250  men  were  thrown  out  through  this 
section  to  hunt  the  wily  Seminoles"  they  came  upon 
numerous  villages,  with  their  crude  home  belongings, 
and  hundreds  of  acres  of  lima  beans,  pumpkins, 
bananas  and  other  food  products,  but  in  every  in- 


202     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

stance  the  camps  had  been  recently  abandoned  by  the 
Indians. 

From  the  Gulf  to  the  Atlantic,  naught  remained  of 
Colonel  Harney's  "trail"  but  the  ashes  of  the  wig 
wams,  the  devastated  crops  and  the  skeleton  of  an 
Indian  scout  here  and  there,  lying  beside  his  canoe 
where  he  had  been  attacked  by  the  soldiers  in  a 
secreted  channel  in  the  tall  saw-grass.  After  a  fruit 
less  search,  the  boats  were  recalled  and  the  expedi 
tion  given  up.  The  Seminoles  in  their  hidden  re 
cesses  had  made  good  use  of  their  ancient  signal 
codes. 

Today,  the  Seminole  stands  upon  the  last  sandy 
strip  of  his  once  vast  domain,  an  honorable  hyphen 
ated  Indian-American.  With  the  horrors  of  the 
great  European  war  as  told  to  him,  his  instincts  of 
liberty  ai^d  freedom  asserted  themselves  and  he 
proved  himself  no  "slacker"  as  he  stood  ready  as  a 
volunteer  to  defend  his  native  America  in  the  great 
war  struggle. 

The  War  Department  at  Washington,  after  seri 
ously  considering  their  application  for  scout  duty 
and  sharpshooting  service,  decided  against  the  prof 
fered  aid. 

An  amusing  incident,  at  this  time,  illustrates  the 
Indian's  intense  patriotism  and  when  questioned  by  a 
white  friend,  as  to  fighting  Germany,  the  Chieftain 
asked: 

"You  go?  Yes,  me  go,  shoot  Germans  like  Hell. 
One  hundred  Indian  men  go.  Indian  shoot  good. 
Indian  want  two  Maxims," — the  Seminole's  idea  of 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     203 

doing  double  service  for  peace  and  liberty.  As  Bel 
gium  and  bleeding  France  stand  by  the  colors  today 
at  every  hearthstone  in  the  land,  crucified  that  lib 
erty  and  democracy  might  be  saved  for  the  whole 
world,  so  the  Seminole,  through  a  century  long  in 
vasion  of  his  wigwam  and  his  campfire  by  the  Pale 
face,  has  come  through  the  crucible,  still  true  to  the 
colors  of  the  plumed  knight  of  his  race — the  mar 
tyred  Osceola — American  patriots  that  we  know 
would  spend  their  last  drop  of  blood  freely  and  glad 
ly  in  defense  of  their  native  land  and  sacred  soil 
they  have  loved  so  long. 

With  the  granting  of  the  reservation  in  the  Big 
Cypress  by  the  State  of  Florida,  the  patient,  long 
neglected  native  red  people  of  the  Everglades  have 
had  a  new  chapter  written  in  their  tragic  life  story 
book.  Already  the  United  States  Government  has 
come  to  the  assistance  of  these  Seminoles  and  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Special  Florida  Indian  Com 
missioner,  who,  too,  is  an  educated  Seminole  from 
the  West,  their  lands  are  being  fenced,  the  Seminole 
being  encouraged  to  perform  the  labor,  with  the 
prospect  of  stocking  this  section  with  good  cattle. 

The  Seminole  is  a  natural  stock  raiser  and  will  be 
allowed  to  buy  cattle  and  pay  for  them  at  so  much 
per  year,  using  his  own  mark  and  brand.  Together 
with  the  co-operative  help  of  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  the  Southern  Baptist  Home  Mission  Board 
is  planning  to  immediately  enter  the  field  with  in 
dustrial  and  missionary  workers — the  teachers  to  be 
educated  Oklahoma  kinsmen  of  the  Seminoles,  who 


204     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

will  in  time  make  this  people  citizens  worthy  of  the 
blood  of  their  patriotic  ancestry. 

Can  you,  the  friend  of  the  down-trodden  and  the 
oppressed,  not  see  the  Seminole  silhouetted  against 
the  burnished  horizon,  waiting  for  Opportunity  to 
open  her  Pandora  box  and  give  him  a  chance  with 
the  people  of  America  in  a  better  civilization  and 
Christianity? 

Can  you  not  hear  the  heart  of  the  big  forests  throb 
a  tribute  of  praise  and  the  glittering  waters  ripple 
a  melody  of  love  for  this  touch  of  humanity — "For 
inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of 
my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

A  VISIT  TO  A  SEMINOLE  CAMP. 

Would  you  visit  a  Seminole  village  in  the  heart  of 
America's  Least  Known  Wilderness?  Then  let  us 
draw  the  curtain  and,  turning  the  slide,  look  upon  a 
vision  of  aboriginal  life  with  its  flame  encircled 
background. 

The  view  of  this  aquatic  jungle  has  not  changed 
since  Spanish  and  English  invasion  four  centuries 
ago.  Of  the  300,000  Americans  found  when  Co 
lumbus  landed  on  these  wild  and  unexplored  shores, 
the  Florida  Seminoles  are  the  only  remnant  left  who 
live  the  old,  primitive  life  and  practice  the  cere 
monies  of  their  royal,  barbaric  ancestors. 

We  see  the  palmetto  thatched  wigwams  glistening 
in  the  red  lights  from  the  camp  fire;  tall  trees  are 
silhouetted  against  the  sky,  and  we  see  the  little  chil- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     205 

dren  playing  backward  and  forward,  their  little, 
brown  legs  twinkling  through  the  shadows  cast  by 
the  lurid  flames.  We  hear  the  century-old  lullabies, 
softly  crooned  by  the  mothers  as  they  watch  with 
careful  eyes  the  toddling  pappooses.  Let  us  look 
again  on  this  scene  from  aboriginal  life  and  see  the 
stoical  braves,  as  they  rearrange  the  "red  wheel" 
camp  fire  and  continuously  add  to  the  ever  ready 
Sofka  kettle  some  new  ingredient,  possibly  fresh 
from  the  chase.  The  hunting  dogs  scent  the  savory 
odor,  while  the  alert  and  watchful  squaws  glide  in 
and  out  amid  the  shadows  of  the  royal  palms,  which 
stand  like  sentinel  warriors,  crowned  with  feathery 
head-dresses  that  rustle  in  the  breeze. 

We  look  again,  and  the  slide  shows  the  cypress 
canoe  "car  lines";  these  are  the  secret  channels  cut 
through  the  watery  saw-grass  prairies  by  the  ances 
tors  of  the  present  Seminole. 

Silently  a  canoe  cleaves  the  dark  waters,  with 
the  chief  of  the  clan  in  the  stern.  Tying  up  among 
the  lily  pads,  the  canoe  is  hidden  from  view  and  the 
red  pilot  with  his  game  approaches  the  camp. 

Beware,  adventurer,  for  this  wilderness  region 
gives  out  no  secrets  and  only  the  Seminole  knows 
the  hidden  channels  and  haunts. 

The  shadows  grow  dimmer  and  dimmer  and  we 
look  up  to  see  the  stars  lift  the  lids  of  their  twinkling 
eyes  to  smile  down  upon  the  sleeping  pappooses;  the 
braves  and  the  squaws,  with  the  faith  of  little  chil 
dren,  keep  afresh  the  mystic  religion  of  their  ances 
tors,  while  they  worship  before  the  Great  Spirit,  who 


206     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

has  given  this  Pay-hay-o-kee  country  to  his  red  chil 
dren.  The  smoke-wreathed  film  blots  this  aborig 
inal  picture  from  our  view,  but  as  we  listen,  we  hear 
the  monotonous  chant  of  the  Indians  echoing  through 
the  solemn  stillness  of  the  night. 

In  this  wooded  silence  the  wild  animals  find  a 
refuge ;  the  gentle  doe,  with  her  fawn,  slips  through 
the  shadows;  the  red  fox  cautiously  watches  for  her 
prey;  the  black  bear,  with  her  chubby  cub,  scents  the 
custard  apple  and  the  palmetto  bud;  the  raccoon 
skulks  through  the  tangled  underbrush  and  the  cun 
ning  otter  darts  through  the  fish-laden  stream  in 
quest  of  his  midnight  meal;  the  snowy  egret,  the 
heron,  the  eagle  and  the  bittern,  with  countless 
migratory  birds  from  the  North  American  continent, 
find  in  this  wild  solitude  a  winter  refuge.  Gorgeous 
ly  colored  butterflies  infest  the  flowers  of  the  Ever 
glade  prairies  and  in  their  flights,  ascending  and 
descending  over  their  island  homes,  form  clouds 
shimmering  with  color  and  animation. 

Today  this  Big  Cypress  is  an  empire  of  pristine 
wonder,  prehistoric  in  its  dramatic  and  weird  jungle 
setting.  Epitomized  into  the  terse  verbiage  of  Per- 
ley  Poore-Sheehan,  one  of  America's  rising  young 
authors  and  a  sympathetic  friend  of  the  Florida 
Seminoles,  "To  cut  the  Big  Cypress  up  into  lots  and 
acres  would  be  like  turning  the  Yosemite  into  an 
onion  garden;  it  would  be  like  turning  the  Yellow 
stone  Park  into  a  factory  town." 

As  we  close  our  eyes  to  this  picture  of  primeval 
life  in  the  "Land  of  the  Seminole,"  with  the  thought 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     207 

of  war  and  famine  and  killing,  which  has  so  recently 
touched  the  heartstrings  of  every  American,  these 
questions  confront  one :  uWho  are  the  barbarians  of 
the  twentieth  century,  the  Caucasian  or  the  red  man 
of  the  primeval  forests?"  You  ask,  "How  long  did 
it  take  to  educate  and  civilize  the  Anglo-Saxon  race?" 
According  to  authentic  history,  the  work  of  civiliz 
ing  Europe  and  bringing  the  mass  of  the  barbarians 
under  the  subjection  of  the  law  was  the  work  of  fully 
one  thousand  years. 

Is  Europe  civilized  today? 


VISITORS  FROM  THE  EVERGLADES. 

This  is  a  day  of  "ether  wave  thoughts."  The  "in 
alienable  rights  of  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of 
happiness"  are  the  searchlights  piercing  the  dark 
corners  of  every  cranny  in  the  universe.  Like  sun 
motes,  human  sympathy  has  entered  the  Indian's 
domain  and  is  vibrating  in  harmony  for  the  Amer 
ican  red  man — acting  as  a  torch  of  liberty,  showing 
the  pale-face  his  belated  duty  to  the  original  Amer 
ican. 

If  the  American  Indian  were  not  worthy  a  place 
in  the  world's  history,  would  his  memory  be  per 
petuated  by  his  white  conquerors?  As  an  idealistic 
type  this  twentieth  century  is  rushing  to  pay  him  a 
tribute.  Is  there  a  white  American  who  would  dare 
to  place  before  a  Congressional  body  a  bill  for  the 
erection  of  a  colossal  statue  of  the  African  to  stand 


208     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

beside  the  Goddess  of  Liberty  in  New  York  har 
bor? 

The  American  Indian,  in  bronze,  is  to  have  this 
honor,  and  to  ex-President  Taft  was  assigned  the 
honor  of  lifting  the  first  spadeful  of  soil  at  the  dedi 
cation  services,  where  Indian  and  white  man  stood 
as  equals  in  this  official  function. 

In  the  Nation's  Hall  of  Fame  in  the  Capitol  at 
Washington,  the  inventor  of  the  Cherokee  alphabet, 
Sequoyah,  an  Indian,  is  honored  with  a  place. 

An  Indian  head  is  on  the  five-dollar  bill,  as  well 
as  on  the  five-cent  piece.  To  the  practical  mind,  let 
us  not  forget  that  Teehee,  the  American  Indian,  must 
sign  our  currency  before  it  is  passed  by  the  Treas 
ury  Department. 

In  military  tactics  the  name  of  no  greater  genius 
adorns  the  pages  of  history  than  that  of  Florida's 
patriot — Osceola,  the  Seminole. 

With  all  due  respect  to  the  immortal  Washington, 
who  remembers  that  he  was  safely  guided  by  a  name 
less  red  man  through  the  pathless  wilderness  to 
Fortress  Duquesne? 

Without  the  Delaware  Indians,  General  Washing 
ton's  advance  upon  the  British  on  that  eventful 
Christmas  eve  of  1777  would  never  have  been  re 
corded  in  history. 

And,  in  the  late  European  war,  do  you  know 
that  thousands  of  Indians  volunteered — not  as 
drafted  men,  not  for  their  homes,  nor  their  States, 
but  for  their  native  land  of  America? 

Cadet  Long  Lance,  the  American  Indian  of  our 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     209 

own  Southland,  as  First  Lieutenant  of  the  Princess 
Pat  Regiment,  brought  enduring  fame  to  the  Chero- 
kees,  standing  his  ground  at  the  terrific  assault  of 
Vimy  Ridge — bringing  back  the  standardbearer, 
the  only  officer  of  his  rank  left  in  the  company. 

The  instinctive  eloquence  of  Coacoochee,  the 
Seminole  chieftain,  in  his  speech  to  our  American 
General  Worth,  made  him  the  peer  of  a  Clay  or  a 
Calhoun,  while  the  great  Seneca  chieftain,  Logan, 
delivered  the  most  eloquent  oration  ever  compiled  in 
American  history. 

In  poetry,  in  romance,  in  legends  and  folk-lore 
literature  of  America,  we  must  look  to  the  American 
Indian. 

It  was  by  the  blue  waters  of  Ontario  that  the 
great  Onondaga  chieftain's  Hiawatha,  formulated 
plans  for  the  first  Peace  League.  Today,  "Peace, 
peace,"  is  not  only  the  wounded  cry  of  the  world, 
but  its  solution  is  being  echoed  and  re-echoed 
throughout  every  nation  of  the  globe. 

After  looking  through  pages  of  history  for  a 
model,  the  youth  of  America,  the  Boy  Scouts  and 
the  Camp  Fire  Girls,  have  taken  the  Indian  for  their 
hero. 

Can  anyone  doubt  the  superiority  of  the  Indian 
character? 

To  Pocahontas,  the  glorification  of  saving  Vir 
ginia  from  utter  destruction  is  well  known,  and  to 
this  Lady  Rebecca  of  the  English  courts  many  Amer 
icans  proudly  trace  direct  descent,  to  this  girl 
princess. 


210     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

To  Florida  belongs  the  first  romance  of  American 
history.  In  this  life  story  of  U-lee-lah,  the  Princess 
of  Hirrihigua,  Florida's  Pocahontas,  is  a  setting 
for  as  dramatic  a  recital  as  ever  adorned  the  pages 
of  literature. 

In  Florida,  particularly,  do  the  descendants  of 
the  old,  turbanned  Seminoles  appeal  to  the  people. 
So  uniform  is  a  kindly  feeling  to  these  Indians  that 
the  man  who  would  show  any  opposition  to  a  char 
ity  or  friendliness  to  them  would  soon  find  himself 
in  the  minority,  and  discredit  would  reflect,  not  on 
the  Indian,  but  on  the  man  himself. 

It  is  always  a  gala  time  when  these  brown-skinned 
people  visit  Kissimmee.  When  a  prepaid  telegram, 
as  a  forerunner  of  his  arrival,  was  received  from  the 
Chieftain,  a  bystander  remarked:  "I  would  rather 
see  Billie  Bowlegs  than  the  President  of  the  United 
States."  When  crowds  gathered  at  the  station  and 
children  lined  the  streets  to  get  a  glimpse  of  these 
picturesque  aborigines,  it  looked  as  if  the  tourist's 
wish  voiced  the  thought  of  the  community  and  illus 
trated  the  point  that  sentiment  does  not  change  with 
the  passing  of  a  century,  for  it  was  in  1820  that 
Count  D.,  a  young  French  nobleman,  after  coming 
all  the  way  from  France  to  meet  Chief  Red  Jacket, 
the  last  of  the  Senecas,  declared  that  he  considered 
Chief  Red  Jacket  a  greater  wonder  than  the  falls 
of  Niagara.  This  remark  was  made  while  standing 
in  view  of  the  great  cataract. 

A  visit  from  these  silent  dwellers  of  the  Ever 
glades  always  revives  interest  in  the  race,  for 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     211 

through  living  authors  one  may  study  the  life  story 
of  these  people — a  story  dating  back  in  its  traditions 
for  more  than  three  hundred  years ;  brought  to  the 
doors  of  a  sympathetic  civilization,  the  citadel  of 
the  hardest  heart  is  touched,  for  it  is  a  narrative 
full  of  pathos. 

Here,  in  the  rich  Kissimmee  Valley,  are  the  camp 
ing  grounds  and  council  seats  of  his  ancestors.  With 
wordless  patience  he  looks  out  upon  the  landscape 
and  the  glittering  waters  of  To-hope-kee-li-ga  and 
for  the  time  lives  in  spirit  with  the  heroic  deeds  of 
his  ancestors;  he  sees  in  the  long  ago  canoes  laden 
with  men  and  women  and  little  children,  brown- 
skinned  and  picturesque,  garbed  in  brilliant  colors, 
leaving  the  ancestral  shores  of  their  old  hunting 
grounds,  as  they  escaped,  terror-stricken,  through  the 
lakes  and  rivers  to  the  mystic  land  of  O-kee-cho- 
bee. 

Today,  naught  remains  of  the  Seminoles  in  this 
region  save  the  melodious  names  of  rivers,  lakes  and 
towns— an  enduring  heritage  of  beauty,  which  is  one 
of  Florida's  most  cherished  and  priceless  posses 
sions. 

To  study  the  history  of  a  secretive  people,  whose 
story  is  so  closely  woven  into  our  own  American 
history,  is  a  research  work  full  of  difficulties,  but 
full  of  happy  surprises. 

Away  from  the  jungle  home,  in  the  white  man's 
town,  the  Seminole  is  silent  and  stoical,  answering 
to  the  questions  put  to  him  by  the  curious  "Me  don't 
know." 


212     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

The  Seminole  discerns  character  quickly,  and 
while  seemingly  indifferent,  if  he  is  with  you  but  a 
few  minutes,  his  keen  powers  of  observation  will 
pierce  you  through  and  through,  and  he  has,  with  a 
keenness  born  of  centuries  of  "watchful  waiting," 
made  an  understudy  of  your  honesty  or  your  inner 
self. 

It  is  around  the  wigwam  camp  fire  and  the  Sofka 
kettle  that  the  Indian  relaxes ;  there  he  is  a  big-souled 
host,  extending  the  same  hospitality  that  welcomed 
the  European  four  hundred  years  ago.  Laughter 
and  jokes  abound;  news  of  the  outside  world  is  re 
counted;  the  squaws  bring  the  prize  pumpkin  to  be 
admired,  and  the  rippling  laughter  of  the  children,  as 
they  gather  firewood  for  the  white  friend,  is  beau 
tiful  in  its  soft  cadenced  melody. 

In  the  friendly  white  man's  home,  when  the  shy 
ness  of  many  moons  of  separation  has  worn  off, 
the  Indians  give  many  unique  accounts  of  life  in 
the  wigwam  dwellings;  they  tell  of  the  canals  being 
cut  through  their  Everglade  country  and  the  ubig 
smoke"  from  the  engines,  and  the  great  influx  of 
white  settlers  that  have  come  into  this  swamp  coun 
try. 

Facetiously  adding:  "White  man,  money  want  to 
make  'em  too  fast,  rain  come,  water  too  much,  money 
lose  'em  ojus  (much).  Go  back,  say  Everglades 
ho-lo  wagus  (no  good).  No  come  again." 

The  Seminoles  acknowledge  that  their  hunting 
grounds  are  gone  and  that  the  pale-face  has  slaugh 
tered  the  game,  admitting,  after  much  pressure,  that 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     213 

the  Indians  sometimes  go  hungry.  Hungry  in  a  land 
like  Florida! 

A  visit  from  these  people  of  the  darksome  Glade 
forests  is  always  fraught  with  kindly  attention. 
Nothing  but  a  heartfelt  kindness  is  shown  them,  and 
a  tribute  paid  to  them,  not  because  of  any  other 
interest  in  the  Indian,  but  because  they  are  the  rep 
resentatives  of  a  proud  and  noble  race  and  the  Amer 
ican  people  are  hero  worshippers. 

It  is  a  question  if  any  celebrity  could  have  been 
treated  with  greater  courtesy.  Crowds  sought  to  ex 
tend  a  greeting;  parents  brought  their  young  chil 
dren  to  shake  the  hands  of  these  ambassadors  of  a 
race  that  is  vanishing  so  fast.  It  was  not  an  inter 
est  of  idle  curiosity,  but  a  genuine,  tender  solicitude. 
This  need  not  surprise,  for  an  inborn  and  instinctive 
admiration  must  be  felt  for  a  people  through  whose 
veins  flow  the  purest  blood  of  any  of  the  American 
Indians  today,  and  who  live  and  practice  the  same 
ceremonies  of  their  ancient  ancestors. 

Not  a  drop  of  the  white  man's  blood  courses 
through  the  'veins  of  an  Everglade  Seminole! 

Many  small  gifts  were  bestowed  upon  these  silent 
visitors;  men  of  capital  from  far-away  States,  tour 
ists  and  old  friends,  took  the  time  to  go  to  the  stores 
to  purchase  such  presents  as  they  thought  would 
please  the  Indians. 

Kodaks  and  camera  men  kept  busy.  The  guests 
of  the  hotel,  retired  business  men,  as  well  as  the 
women  and  children,  vied  with  each  other  in  having 


214     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

a  souvenir  picture,  showing  themselves  in  friendly 
relation  with  these  red  people  of  the  forest. 

With  the  exhilaration  of  boys,  the  men  took  turns 
with  each  other  as  they  posed  with  the  instruction, 
"Now  you  snap  while  I  stand  beside  Billy."  The 
Seminole  chieftain  was  the  only  calm  one;  he  was  as 
passive  and  immobile  as  a  bronze  statue. 

The  cornet  band  divided  honors  with  the  newly 
elected  mayor  and  volunteered  a  serenade. 

Whether  it  was  the  courtesy  of  an  automobile  ride, 
or  being  addressed  by  guests,  both  Billy  and  his  sis 
ter  received  the  attentions  with  such  a  quiet  grace 
and  refinement  as  if  to  the  manner  born,  causing  an 
admiring  tourist  to  give  Stem-o-la-kee,  the  title  "A 
Princess  of  the  Everglades"  and  calling  Billy  the 
"Red  Knight  of  Okee-cho-bee,"  titles  as  much  in  or 
der  today  as  those  bestowed  three  centuries  ago  on 
the  Lady  Rebecca,  the  far-famed  Pocahontas. 

STEM-O-LA-KEE. 

Seldom,  if  ever,  has  a  Seminole  squaw  stepped 
beyond  the  boundaries  of  her  trackless  Everglade 
home  to  visit  the  home  of  the  white  man ;  to  study  a 
Seminole  woman  at  close  range  and  yet  far  from  her 
forest  refuge,  is  a  privilege  seldom  experienced.  An 
incident  is  recalled  when  a  young  squaw,  in  com 
pany  with  her  brother,  was  making  her  first  visit 
to  civilization. 

The  couple  had  traveled  three  hundred  miles  by 
ox  cart,  canoe  and  railroad.  Reaching  their  desti- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     215 

nation,  they  were  escorted  to  a  waiting  automobile, 
when  they  were  whirled  away  to  the  home  of  the 
pale-face  and  enjoyed  this  first  ride  in  the  "fire 
wagon,"  with  the  same  dignity  and  calmness  that 
they  would  do  in  their  cypress  dug-out  canoes  along 
the  water  courses  of  their  saw-grass  homes. 

Stem-o-la-kee,  with  the  natural  feminine  instinct, 
soon  showed  her  domestic  sense,  her  native  frontier 
nature  for  the  time  being  relegated  to  memories. 
The  easy  couch  and  cushioned  rocker  appealed  to 
her  sense  of  luxury.  The  delight  of  pouring  tea 
from  the  silver  pot  was  an  unending  pleasure.  She 
admired  the  furnishings  and  belongings  of  the  white 
home,  but  when  asked  if  she  would  like  to  live  in 
such  an  abode  her  answer  came,  quick  and  decisive : 
"Munks-chay  (no),  white  man's  home  like  littly  bit, 
one  week  me  think  my  home,  Okee-cho-bee."  Sig 
nificant  was  her  summary  of  civilization — humble 
though  her  wigwam,  she  loved  it  with  all  the  ardor 
of  her  savage  heart.  This  young  woman,  three  hun 
dred  miles  from  her  forest  home,  showed  inborn 
grace  and  dignity  in  her  demeanor.  Particularly  was 
she  interested  in  the  pictures  on  the  wall,  but,  on  rec 
ognizing  the  portrait  of  Osceola,  all  her  frontier 
nature  was  aroused  and,  with  vindictive  spirit  and 
trembling  with  suppressed  emotion,  she  exclaimed : 

"Indian's  big  Chief,  long  time  ago !  White  man 
kill'im!" 

She  knew  the  perfidy  of  Osceola's  capture  under 
the  white  flag  of  truce  as  well  as  any  American 
student. 


216     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

This  untutored  and  innocent  child  of  the  forest 
became  a  most  interesting  personal  study.  Friendly 
and  courteous,  there  yet  shone  out  from  her  won 
derful  eyes  an  unapproachableness  that  made  a  gulf 
between  the  white  woman  and  the  red  woman. 

Stem-o-la-kee  wore  many  strands  of  glittering 
beads,  which  to  the  Seminole  woman  mean  every 
thing — usefulness,  caste  and  the  wealth  of  her  hus 
band  or  father.  She  never  appears  without  this 
insignia  of  her  position,  and  in  the  particular  in 
stance  of  this  Glade  visitor,  when  the  doctor  whom 
she  had  come  to  consult  ordered  the  removal  of  the 
necklace  on  account  of  its  great  weight,  medical  au 
thority  and  savage  superstition  clashed.  Stem-o-la- 
kee  reluctantly  obeyed  the  doctor's  order,  in  part,  by 
removing  a  few  strands.  She  had  not  brought  all 
her  beads,  nor  her  beaten  silver  ornaments,  with  her, 
which  are  used  for  full  dress  and  ceremonial  occa 
sions,  and  seemed  to  feel  an  embarrassment  over 
this,  explaining:  "Plenty  beads  means  good  squaw. 
My  home  Okee-cho-bee,  me  got  a  plenty;  sick  too 
much,"  meaning  she  had  come  on  an  errand  for 
health  and  not  for  a  social  visit.  To  these  sun 
tanned  women  of  the  Everglades,  the  beads  play  an 
important  part  all  through  life. 

When  the  little  pappoose  is  a  year  old,  she  is  given 
her  first  string,  with  its  "first  year  bead."  This  bead 
is  always  larger  and  of  different  color. 

A  string  of  beads  is  allowed  for  each  year  until 
she  marries.  At  her  marriage,  her  mother  gives  her 
many  new  strands,  and,  if  she  is  a  chief's  daughter, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     217 

she  receives  many  gifts  of  beads  at  her  wedding. 
The  beads  play  such  an  important  part  in  the  career 
of  a  Seminole  woman  that  they  are  always  given  as  a 
reward  for  any  prowess  and  a  mother  is  allowed  two 
strings  for  each  child  born.  In  full  dress  many  of 
the  squaws  wear  from  twenty  to  thirty  pounds  of 
glass  beads,  varying  in  size  and  color — the  colors 
blending  in  perfect  harmony. 

When  the  squaw  reaches  middle  life,  she  begins  to 
take  off  her  beads,  one  string  at  a  time,  as  so  many 
moons  go  by,  until  but  one  string  is  left. 

She  is  now  an  old  woman,  too  old  to  work,  and  the 
single  strand  she  wears  is  made  up  of  the  "life 
beads"  and  buried  with  her. 

During  Stem-o-la-kee's  stay,  though  tired  and 
weak  from  illness,  and  with  a  constant  knocking  at 
the  door  by  wee  tots,  as  well  as  older  visitors,  who 
came  to  "shake  hands  with  the  Indian  woman,"  the 
young  squaw  showed  nothing  but  grace  and  good 
feeling  to  the  visitors.  On  all  such  occasions  she 
would,  in  a  twinkling,  don  her  new  and  gayly  colored 
dress,  add  the  discarded  ropes  of  beads,  give  a  twist 
to  her  raven  hair,  and  would  appear  at  the  parlor 
door,  shy,  but  with  eyes  shining  and  with  a  pleas 
ing  smile,  stand  ready  to  give  the  usual  gracious  hand 
grasp  and  then  as  quickly  and  noiselessly  glide  away, 
like  a  timid  deer,  to  the  improvised  couch  which 
had  been  made  for  her. 

As  Stem-o-la-kee,  in  her  broken  English,  told  of 
the  forest  home,  a  picture  of  her  wigwam  dwelling 
became  very  vivid;  such  a  picture  inspires  courage 


218     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

and  touches  chords  of  sympathy  in  one's  make-up. 

In  a  solitude,  which  only  nature  reveals,  this 
brown-skinned  people  live  amid  the  shadows  of  the 
great  live  oaks,  seeing  God  in  the  clouds  and  hearing 
him  in  the  winds.  One  sees  the  happy,  turban- 
crowned  braves  move  about  and  dusky  squaws  glide 
in  and  out,  watching  with  careful  eyes  the  toddling 
pappooses,  as  they  play  on  the  grassy  sward;  the 
laughing  of  the  huntsman  is  heard  and  the  songs  of 
the  Seminole  Minnehaha  make  the  night  beautiful. 

During  the  visit  of  these  Seminoles,  a  protracted 
meeting  was  in  session  with  a  noted  divine  in  charge. 
With  no  disrespect  intended  to  the  ministerial  work, 
it  was  amusing  to  hear  the  question  many  times 
asked:  "Are  the  Seminoles  going  to  church  to 
night  ?"  Sufficient  to  induce  a  crowd. 

Another  visit  of  a  Seminole  family  is  still  fresh 
in  memory.  The  visit  had  been  planned  for  many, 
many  moons.  With  the  exception  of  one  Indian,  who 
acted  as  escort  and  friendly  interpreter,  none  of  these 
Seminoles  had  ever  been  in  the  white  man's  home, 
yet  they  accepted  the  change  from  the  weird 
morasses  with  the  simplest  dignity.  The  party  of  six 
were  all  in  neat,  yet  brilliant  attire — all  save  little 
eight-year-old  Mop-o-hatch-ee,  whose  travel-stained 
dress  worried  the  mistress  of  the  home,  for  they  were 
all  expected  to  attend  the  church  Christmas  tree  that 
evening. 

Asking  Cho-fee-hatch-ee  if  the  little  one  had  an 
other  dress,  he  replied:  "She  no  got  'em;  she  wash 
her  dress."  Feeling  this  an  impossible  task  we  re- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     219 

plied,  "No,  she  is  too  little,"  but  being  assured  that 
this  little  red-skinned  tot  was  equal  to  the  emer 
gency,  she  was  permitted  to  proceed  with  the  order 
from  Cho-fee-hatch-ee.  A  cunning  picture  she  made, 
as  her  long,  black  hair  fell  around  her  shoulders 
and  she,  with  nature's  washboard  (her  tiny  hands), 
rubbed  the  quaintly  made  dress  until  it  was  clean 
and  ready  to  be  dried.  To  expedite  the  work,  a 
negro  was  called  in  to  take  the  dress  to  be  ironed; 
a  glance  at  Mop-o-hatch-ee  revealed  a  forest  child 
convulsed  with  sobs.  Not  understanding  a  word  of 
English,  she  thought  her  only  dress  was  being  taken 
from  her. 

Only  once  during  the  visit  of  these  Everglade  peo 
ple  was  there  any  apparent  curiosity  evinced,  and 
this  was  within  an  hour  after  their  arrival,  when  the 
hostess  had  been  called  to  the  telephone. 

Looking  back,  she  saw  the  two  children  peering 
into  the  room  through  the  French  window,  wonder 
ing,  no  doubt,  what  foolish  thing  the  mistress  of 
the  house  could  be  doing.  At  another  time,  old 
Martha  Tiger,  the  aged  grandmother,  came  close  to 
the  'phone  with  a  quizzical  look,  when  it  was  vaguely 
explained  we  were  "talking  to  the  store  man  down 
town."  In  American  history,  old  Martha  and  her 
contemporaries  antedate  the  telephone,  for  with 
smoke  signals  and  "listening  posts"  their  warriors' 
quickness  in  getting  news  of  the  enemy  puzzled  many 
an  American  officer. 

Pictures  from  the  Geographical  Magazine  and 
letters  from  the  old  "blue  back"  spelling  book  inter- 


220     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ested  all  these  Everglade  people,  except  old  Martha 
Tiger  who  said  "She  old  too  much." 

Who  shall  say  there  is  no  hope  for  these  forest 
people  ? 

As  this  visit  drew  to  a  close  and  that  feeling  of 
homiletic  friendliness  was  apparent  when  some 
humor  might  be  indulged  in,  it  was  suggested  that 
Show-lod-ka,  the  good-looking  ten-year-old  boy, 
should  remain  and  learn  to  drive  the  automobile,  and 
that  Mop-o-hatch-ee  stay  with  him.  These  two 
motherless  children  are  the  direct  descendants  of 
the  old  Chieftain  Tallahassee,  whose  grim  and  de 
termined  patriotism  eighty  years  ago  wrenched  his 
tribe  from  the  white  man's  bullets  and  Uncle  Sam's 
bloodhounds.  These  children  were  devoted  to  each 
other. 

A  few  minutes  later,  little  Mop-o-hatch-ee  sat  on  a 
chair,  her  feet  swinging,  and  rubbing  her  eyes  to 
stay  the  tears.  "She  'fraid  you  keep  her,"  the  older 
Indian  explained,  and  the  boy  with  the  same  fear 
had  slipped  off  to  his  sleeping  quarters. 

Love  for  their  Everglade  home  is  instilled  into 
every  Seminole.  They  love  the  country  bequeathed 
by  their  ancestors — the  gift  of  the  Great  Spirit  to  his 
red  children  of  Florida,  with  a  love  that  is,  at  times, 
frenzied  in  its  demonstration. 

To  see  to  it,  that  these  native  people  have  pro 
tection,  education  and  Christianity,  must  be  the  duty 
of  this  America  of  ours,  this  America  which  stands 
ready  to  protect  the  weak  and  the  oppressed  of  all 
nations. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     221 

When  the  citizenship  of  this  liberty  loving  coun 
try  awakens  to  the  needs  of  the  stranded  red  race 
of  600  souls  in  the  heart  of  the  Big  Cypress,  then, 
and  not  till  then  will  these  original  owners  be  led 
out  of  the  darkness  of  a  conquered  people  into  the 
light  of  progress  and  civilization. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  thousands  of  our  Florida 
tourists  make  efforts  to  see  the  descendants  of  Amer 
ica's  primeval  people.  Many  times  attempts  are 
made  by  the  adventurous  tourist  to  visit  a  Seminole 
village  in  the  secluded  cypress  region  of  the  Glade 
Wilderness ;  but  alas !  after  dragging  themselves  over 
the  marshy,  cutting  saw-grass  prairies,  they  find 
what?  A  deserted  camp,  possibly  the  coals  still 
burning  in  the  camp  fire,  but  the  Indians,  hie-pus  (all 
gone)  hiding  in  some  secret  haunt. 

Still,  it  is  a  common  sight,  particularly  at  Miami 
to  see  a  Seminole  family  as  they  pole  the  rude  craft, 
a  dugout  cypress  canoe,  along  the  river. 

Dressed  in  a  way,  bizarre  and  ludicrous,  to  our 
white  man's  way  of  thinking,  still  strikingly  digni 
fied. 

The  brave  poles  the  boat  while  the  squaws  watch 
the  family  belongings.  At  the  other  end  of  the  boat, 
a  group  of  round  faced  and  exceedingly  quiet  little 
Seminoles  brightly  garbed  in  red  and  blue  calico,  sit, 
much  more  interested  in  the  shadows  in  the  water, 
than  in  the  people  on  shore. 

It  is  but  natural  that  Americans,  who  know  the 
Seminole,  should  feel  an  innate  respect  for  them, 
especially  if  we  reflect  that  the  strain  of  the  old  Aztec 


222     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

runs  through  their  veins  and  produces  the  same 
heroic  fortitude  that  made  Guatemotziu,  the  last  of 
the  Aztec  Emperors,  under  the  torture  of  fire  by 
Cortez,  reply  with  ironical  stoicism  to  his  persecu 
tors,  "Am  I  on  a  bed  of  roses?" 

Today  the  Seminole  suffers  and  endures  without 
complaint  and  retains  his  old-time  pride.  As  is 
known,  the  Seminole  in  polite  but  in  positive  terms, 
refuses  presents  of  any  magnitude  from  white 
friends.  "Littly  presents  me  take,  big  presents, 
money  cost  'im  too  much,  Indian  no  take." 

When  it  was  learned  that  a  chieftain  had  not  only 
lost  his  camp  and  all  his  belongings  by  fire,  amount 
ing  to  about  three  hundred  dollars,  and  that  he  had 
had  the  expense  of  a  trip  to  see  a  physician,  that 
would  appall  the  average  wage  earner,  some  mem 
bers  of  the  Society  of  the  "Friends  of  the  Florida 
Seminoles"  suggested  that  a  purse  be  made  up  for 
his  benefit.  Then  came  the  delicate  point  of  making 
such  a  suggestion.  Cho-fee-halch-o,  with  the  old- 
time  pride  of  his  ancestors,  in  answer  to  the  ques 
tion  whether  he  would  take  money  for  his  expenses, 
replied:  "Me  no  think  so;  my  money  me  make. 
My  own  money  me  spend.  Me  no  take  it." 

Where  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  who  could  refuse  good 
American  dollars  when  free  for  the  acceptance? 

With  a  race  so  proud,  too  honorable  to  beg,  yet 
clinging  with  a  desperate  effort  to  their  beloved 
Florida,  what  must  we,  as  Americans,  do  but  pro 
tect  them? 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     223 


HOME  AND  RELIGION. 

It  is  a  long  way  from  the  savagery  of  the  jungle  to 
the  doors  of  civilization,  where,  when  the  confidence 
and  faith  of  the  Seminole  has  been  won,  he  becomes 
as  trusting  and  confiding  as  a  little  child.  The  en 
deavor  to  show  the  Seminole  what  Christianity  stands 
for  has  been  one  of  the  most  complex  problems  en 
countered. 

"Not  to  lie,  not  to  steal,  not  to  cheat  and  to 
think  with  God,"  is  practiced  with  precision. 

The  Seminole,  with  most  reverend  attitude,  listens 
to  the  returning  of  thanks,  at  the  white  man's  table 
and  with  the  question  put,  "Billy,  do  Seminoles  talk 
to  God  and  ask  Him  to  give  them  food  and  homes?" 
"Munks-chay"  (No),  replied  the  Indian,  "no  ask 
Him." 

Then,  as  if  a  light  dawned,  as  to  the  nature  of 
our  study,  he  told  of  a  hunting  experience  of  a  few 
weeks  before,  when  he  had  acted  as  guide  for  a 
northern  tourist.  For  three  days  the  red  huntsman 
had  sought  all  the  bayous  for  deer,  but  "deer  hie- 
pus"  (all  gone).  Man  feel  sorry  ojus  (plenty). 
Night  come,  we  wake  two  o'clock,  moon  shine  bright, 
me  hear  water  laugh.  Me  see  big  e-cho  (deer)  swim 
across  the  river.  My  gun  me  take.  Kill  big  deer. 
Me  tell  Great  Spirit  'Me  thank  you.'  White  man 
glad  ojus;  he  go  back  to  New  York,  take  big  buck 
antlers — he  say  he  kill  big  deer  in  Everglades." 

The  Seminole,  like  his  ancient  ancestors,  thanks 


224     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

the  Great  Spirit  for  blessings  received,  but  does  not 
beseech  favors. 

Can  you  not  imagine  the  startled  emotion  experi 
enced  when,  after  trying  to  tell  a  stalwart,  honest 
Seminole  something  of  civilization  and  Christianity, 
he  with  all  deference  of  a  Chieftain  answered:  "Me 
no  think  me  want  to  be  civilized.  Me  think  me  get 
civilized,  me  lie,  steal,  cheat.  Some  day  big  sleep 
come.  Me  want  to  go  to  Happy  Hunting  Grounds. 
Me  want  to  see  Great  Spirit;  me  want  to  see  my 
grandfather.  Me  no  think  white  man  go  to 
Heaven." 

How  would  you  answer  such  philosophy? 

The  Seminole  believes  that  when  Eschock-ee-tom- 
e-see  (the  Supreme  Being)  calls  him  hence,  that  his 
spirit  will  make  its  last  journey  to  the  Happy  Hunt 
ing  Grounds  of  his  fathers,  winging  its  way  over 
the  seven  colored  rainbow  of  the  heavens — the 
"Highway  of  the  Great  Spirit.'1 

SEMINOLE  INCIDENTS. 

An  incident,  linking  past  Seminole  history  with  the 
present,  is  full  of  interest,  because  so  old,  and  yet 
so  new. 

Just  eighty  years  ago,  at  the  time  the  great  Chief 
tain  Osceola  was  betrayed  near  St.  Augustine,  with 
him  was  another  Chieftain,  by  name  of  John  Jumper. 

History  has  not  failed  to  record  the  life  and  death 
of  Osceola,  but  of  John  Jumper  little  has  been  writ 
ten  outside  of  Government  records. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     225 

Jumper  was  taken  prisoner  to  the  Indian  territory. 
Many  years  after  he  was  converted  by  a  missionary 
and  being  a  musical  leader  among  his  tribe,  naturally 
grasped  the  white  man's  melodies. 

Later  he  composed  a  religious  hymn.  During  the 
last  visit  of  the  Everglade  Seminoles  to  Kissimmee, 
as  is  the  custom,  they  attended  the  church  service. 
At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  the  minister  gave  a  little 
talk  to  the  Indians  and  sang  a  song  in  the  Seminole 
tongue,  which  was  very  beautiful  and  so  rhythmical 
that  when  once  lodged  in  the  brain,  the  tune  refused 
to  be  dislodged.  The  minister,  Dr.  A.  J.  Holt,  ex 
plained  to  the  congregation  that  he  had  learned  the 
hymn  more  than  forty  years  ago  from  Colonel  John 
Jumper  in  the  Indian  territory.  This  Chieftain  had 
enlisted  in  the  Civil  War,  where  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Colonel  under  the  Confederate 
colors. 

Returning  from  the  church  services,  we  were 
eager  to  know  from  the  Indians  if  they  had  under 
stood  the  Seminole  song.  One  Indian,  very  musical, 
said:  "Yes,  me  sing  it  good,"  which  he  did  to  per 
fection,  not  omitting  a  single  note  or  word.  How 
did  the  young  Seminole  learn  the  words  and  tune  so 
quickly?  He  explained,  "me  learn  it  in  Everglades." 
Certainly  a  remarkable  incident.  The  solution  was 
easy.  An  educated  Oklahoma  Indian  Missionary, 
visiting  the  Everglades  the  year  previous,  had  taught 
the  song  to  these  Seminoles. 

Another  incident,  showing  mechanical  genius  as 
well  as  love  of  music  is  here  appended. 


226     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

A  few  years  ago  when  the  Coast  towns  of  Florida 
were  still  primitive,  a  store  keeper  had  purchased  in 
New  York  an  old-fashioned  organette,  that  played 
five  tunes.  The  Seminoles  at  that  time  frequently 
came  on  purchasing  expeditions  to  these  trading  vil 
lages.  Cho-fee-hatch-o,  progressive  and  musical,  lis 
tened  to  the  "box  of  music"  as  it  played  in  the  little 
store,  and  was  entranced  with  the  melodies. 

Soon  after,  the  organette  refused  to  "go"  and 
the  trader  told  his  friends,  that  unless  he  could  "stick 
it  on  the  Indians,  he  would  be  out  thirty-five  dollars." 
A  few  days  later,  the  Chief  with  another  Indian, 
came  back  to  the  store  bringing  produce  to  sell.  The 
white  trader  wanted  the  Indian's  goods  and  sug 
gested  to  the  Chief  that  he  exchange  for  the  music 
box,  telling  the  innocent  Seminole  that  "music  box  no 
more  play,  wake  up  by  and  by  and  play  good,  him 
tired  now."  The  Seminole  with  his  mechanical 
knowledge,  looked  the  organette  over,  and  making 
the  trade,  proudly  left  with  the  "tired  out"  music  box 
under  his  arm. 

The  next  day,  the  two  Indians  returned,  bringing 
with  them  the  music  box  to  show  to  the  storekeeper. 
"That  box,  him  no  more  tired,"  and  winding  up  the 
machine,  which  the  ingenious  Seminole  had  put  into 
working  order,  played  the  whole  five  tunes,  to  the  as 
tonishment  and  chagrin  of  the  trader.  "Him  play 
good  at  Green  Corn  Dance,  down  Okee-cho-bee." 

Several  years  after  the  organette  was  still  doing 
service  in  the  Seminole  camps,  where,  with  its  ab 
original  settings  it  seemed  to  fill  a  niche  that  harmon- 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     227 

ized  with  the  forests,  with  the  timid  stars  that  hung 
overhead,  with  the  wigwams  and  the  shadowy  flicker 
of  the  camp  fire. 

The  ancestral  music  of  the  Seminole  is  full  of  a 
wild,  weird  melody,  where  men  and  women  and  lit 
tle  children  join  voices.  As  the  Indians  sing,  you 
may  hear  the  melancholy  waters  whisper  a  pensive 
good-night  and  the  drowsy  birds  flutter  in  their 
boughs.  You  hear  the  camp  songs  and  the  lulla 
bies  like  voices  trained  in  the  woodland  with  a 
strain  of  heartbreak,  where  life  and  love  steal  forth 
in  fanciful  ecstasy  and  the  vanished  souls  seem  to  call 
back  in  tenuous  fragments  of  mystery,  only  to  die 
away  into  a  symphony  of  sorrow,  as  the  melodies 
echo  across  the  dark  wilderness. 


MESSAGES  FROM  THE  EVERGLADES. 

Requests  come  so  often  for  more  details  regarding 
these  silent  children  of  the  forests,  and  interesting 
as  well  as  unique  are  the  letters  and  messages  that 
come  from  the  Everglades. 

With  the  ox  team  and  fleet  footed  Indian  messen 
gers,  together  with  Uncle  Sam's  quick  mail  service, 
communications  reach  the  white  man's  town,  as  per 
the  will  of  the  Seminole.  With  the  Indians'  promise 
to  keep  us  informed  of  their  needs,  births,  marriages 
and  ambitions  (for  the  Seminole  never  breaks  his 
word) ,  a  recent  letter  from  the  wigwam  reads:  uMe 
want  to  tell  you  we  have  not  forgotten  you."  Then 
comes  the  interesting  part,  "My  sister  She-y-o-hee 


228     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

got  little  pappoose,  six  days  old;  it  is  a  girl."  Added 
to  this  is  another  birth  record:  "Shon-o-la-kee  got 
one  too,  ten  days  old;  it  is  a  boy."  Certainly  in  the 
Everglades  among  the  first  families  of  America,  the 
birth  register  is  kept  intact.  The  letter  continues: 
"Me  send  you  pumpkins  seed."  (These  are  the  In 
dian  pumpkin,  a  tree  climbing  variety  known  to  the 
American  soldiers  eighty  years  ago.) 

In  this  day  of  food  conservation  and  scientific 
economy,  it  may  be  well  to  make  a  comparison.  The 
seeds  were  distributed  among  friends  and  neighbors, 
some  delicious  pumpkins  were  raised  and  enjoyed, 
but  alas !  for  a  future  crop !  Not  a  seed  was  saved 
and  to  the  wigwam  seed  bag  must  we  go  if  more 
pumpkins  are  planted. 

It  can  hardly  be  disputed,  that  the  Seminoles,  in 
their  migrations  from  Mexico  brought  the  seeds  with 
them. 

To  Dr.  Howard  A.  Kelly,  widely  known  surgeon, 
traveller,  lecturer  and  philanthropist,  are  we  indebted 
for  the  intensely  interesting  bit  of  Aztec  history, 
blending  so  well  with  Seminole  traditions. 

In  Dr.  Kelly's  travels  in  Mexico,  among  the 
carved  relics  of  Aztec  origin  observed  in  museums 
was  the  pumpkin  of  Aztec  days — centuries  old. 

When  a  Seminole  pumpkin  was  sent  to  the  doctor, 
he  wrote  back:  "The  very  thing  I  tried  to  buy  in 
Mexico,  carved  in  wood.  I  shall  treasure  this  and 
preserve  it  in  alcohol  to  be  handed  down  as  a  link 
connecting  the  land  of  Montezuma  with  the  present 
day  Everglade  history." 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     229 

For  three  hundred  years  the  Seminoles  have  never 
failed  to  have  their  crop  of  this  edible  vegetable  and 
to  save  seed  for  the  next  planting. 

Could  not  the  Seminole  teach  us  all  conserva 
tion? 

SEMINOLES  FIRST  SUFFRAGISTS. 

During  these  latter  years,  when  "equal  rights" 
has  crowded  into  State  and  national  politics,  it  may 
be  interesting  to  the  suffrage  movement  in  America 
to  know  that  the  Seminole  squaws  are  entitled  to  first 
claim  as  American  suffragists. 

Not  that  they  are  cognizant  of  it,  but  they  have 
gained  this  authority  through  their  entire  fitness  for 
it.  The  women  work  equally  with  the  men,  bearing 
burdens,  tanning  skins  and  having  absolute  control 
over  the  children,  who  are  instilled  with  the  dignity 
of  obedience  from  the  moment  their  little  eyes  open 
to  the  world.  They  are  capable,  careful,  loving  moth 
ers,  good  counsellors  in  the  camp  life.  The  Council 
in  passing  upon  a  vital  subject,  must  consult  the 
women  of  the  camp  before  giving  a  final  decision.  If 
a  squaw  wishes  to  divorce  her  husband,  and  she  can 
prove  she  has  a  just  cause  to  do  so,  she  cannot  only 
divorce  him,  but  she  can  name  his  punishment. 

The  money  she  makes  is  hers  to  do  as  she  likes 
with.  She  is  supreme  in  the  home  and  in  the  man 
agement  of  the  camp. 

As  is  known,  Sofka  is  the  tribal  dish  of  the  Semi 
noles;  it  is  a  stew  containing  the  nutriment  of  many 
foods. 


23o     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

The  Sofka  spoon  or  ladle,  made  of  wood,  thus 
becomes  the  much  valued  household  article  and  the 
squaws  show  their  authority  again  here,  for  a  spoon 
cannot  be  taken  from  the  camp  without  the  consent 
of  the  women  of  the  family.  This  ladle  is  frequently 
carved,  the  different  households  having  differently 
shaped  spoons. 

The  Tusteenuggees  are  made  with  full  large  bowls 
— the  Osceolas  have  a  long  slim  bowl,  each  bowl 
having  its  own  particular  style  of  Seminole  "Coat 
of  Arms." 


OSCEOLA,    THE   GARIBALDI   OF   THE    SEMINOLES 

Do  we  feel  surprised  that  thousands  of  our 
Florida  tourists  make  efforts  to  see  the  descendants 
of  Osceola,  the  Garibaldi  of  the  Seminoles? 

That  Osceola  should  be  named  Florida's  most  dis 
tinguished  historical  character  is  not  to  be  disputed. 
This  statement,  in  its  boldness,  regarding  an  un 
tutored  Indian  of  the  wilderness,  at  first  startles,  but 
in  looking  over  the  pages  of  history,  the  question 
naturally  follows:  uls  there  another  character  in 
Florida,  or  even  in  American  history,  who  is  known 
from  ocean  to  ocean  and  whose  generalship  in  war 
fare,  has  the  admiration  of  the  civilized  world,  whose 
heroism  is  the  ideal  of  every  school  boy;  the  story 
of  Osceola,  recounting  his  valor  and  patriotism,  may 
be  found  in  the  classic  histories  of  the  libraries  of 
the  world. 

History  has  never  given  to  the  world  a  more  regal 
soldier,  with  his  magnetic  personality,  royal  in  its 
wild,  uncivilized  way. 

With  such  reverence  is  Osceola  regarded  by  the 
remnants  of  the  Seminole  tribe  today,  that  the  name 
given  to  him  when  he  was  accepted  as  a  chieftain  by 
the  nation,  is  guarded  so  jealously  that  they  refuse 
to  reveal  it  to  any  white  man  who  might  disclose  it 
— treating  it  much  as  the  Israelites  did  the  name  of 

231 


232     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Jehovah — too  sacred  to  pass  the  lips  of  an  alien 
race. 

Osceola's  pride  was  always  uppermost  in  his  ne 
gotiations  and  when  the  Seminoles  were  denied  the 
right  to  buy  ammunition,  Osceola  was  made  the  ob 
ject  of  the  insult. 

To  this  he  replied  with  all  the  defiance  of  his 
proud  blood:  uAm  I  a  negro?  A  slave  who  will 
not  be  allowed  to  handle  a  rifle?  My  skin  is  dark, 
not  black.  I  arn  a  Red  Stick  of  the  Muscokees. 
The  white  man  shall  know  I  am  a  pure  blood." 

At  this  point,  it  is  with  much  pleasure,  the  author 
desires  to  correct  the  erroneous  and  too  often  quoted 
statement  as  given  in  the  pages  of  literature,  viz. : 
that  "Osceola  was  a  half-breed,  the  son  of  an  English 
trader." 

After  much  research  among  records,  and  from  the 
learned  leaders  of  the  Western  Seminoles,  as  well 
as  from  the  old  Seminoles  of  the  Everglades,  it  is 
learned  that  Osceola  disdained  the  idea  of  mixed 
blood,  declaring  that  "not  a  drop  of  foreign  blood 
flowed  through  his  veins." 

His  mother  was  a  Creek  of  the  pure  blood,  a 
daughter  of  a  chief,  whose  second  marriage  to  an 
Englishman  (Powell,  by  name),  occurred  when  Os 
ceola  was  a  small  boy. 

Osceola  was  magnanimous  in  character  and  hon 
orable  in  war  and  no  other  crime  can  be  charged  to 
this  chivalrous  Seminole  than  a  positive  opposition  to 
the  removal  of  his  people  from  their  sunny,  native 
land  to  the  blizzard-stricken  territory  of  the  West. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     233 

Picture,  if  you  will,  a  Florida  war  scene  that  in 
dramatic  climax  is  matchless  in  the  world's  history. 

In  the  Government's  headquarters,  Seminole 
Chieftains  and  American  army  officers  wait;  each  are 
in  the  insignia  of  their  respective  ranks.  The  Amer 
ican  flag  adds  dignity  to  the  scene.  Through  the 
open  windows  come  the  fragrant  perfume  of  the 
orange  and  the  magnolia  blossoms  and  the  song  of 
the  mocking-birds  adds  a  flute-like  melody  to  the 
tropical  setting. 

The  very  air  is  tense  with  the  mental  questions. 
Will  Osceola  come — will  Osceola  sign? 

Promptly  at  the  hour  appointed,  the  savage  chief 
tain,  royal  in  his  warrior  regalia,  self-possessed  and 
with  noiseless  step,  enters  the  room.  With  a  swift 
glance  at  the  stacked  arms  of  his  warriors,  he  ap 
proached  the  council  table  and  with  defiance  in  his 
face  and  high  uplifted  head,  exclaimed:  "Rather 
than  act  the  coward,  by  signing  away  the  Seminole's 
inheritance  and  taking  my  people  into  a  strange  land, 
I  will  fight  till  the  last  drop  of  blood  moistens  the 
dust  of  the  Seminole's  hunting  grounds,"  and  draw 
ing  his  long  sheath  knife  drove  the  blade  through 
the  treaty  pinning  it  to  the  table.  "The  land  is 
ours.  This  is  the  way  I  will  sign  all  such  treaties." 


SHALL  OSCEOLA' s  BONES  BE  REMOVED? 

As  a  keynote  to  the  wave  of  sympathy  which  is 
being  felt  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  in  the 
interest  of  the  fast  vanishing  Seminoles,  is  the  grow 
ing  sentiment  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  their 
famous  war  chieftain,  Osceola,  the  hero  of  the 
"Seven  Years'  War." 

The  body  of  Osceola  is  now  buried  under  the  guns 
of  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  The 
response  to  the  proposition  to  have  the  remains  re 
moved  to  their  native  soil  is  full  of  gratification  and 
shows  the  generous  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  Semi- 
nole  Indians.  To  do  honor  to  Florida's  world-known 
patriot  and  in  part,  atone  for  the  cruel  capture  under 
the  truce  of  white  flag,  cannot  wipe  out  the  national 
stain,  but  will  show  that  this  new  democratized 
America  is  ready  to  atone  even  at  this  late  day. 

Osceola  was  a  soldier  worthy  of  any  race  and 
came  under  the  white  flag  to  "talk"  to  the  American 
general.  During  the  "peace  talk,"  the  ring  of  bay 
onets  closed  around  him  and  seeing  that  he  was  en 
trapped  he  folded  his  arms  scornfully  and  said  noth 
ing  by  way  of  protest  from  that  moment  to  the  day 
of  his  death.  When  Osceola  was  questioned  as  to 
why  he  did  not  make  his  escape,  as  did  some  of  the 
other  chiefs  from  the  dungeon  at  Fort  Marion,  St. 
Augustine,  he  replied:  "I  have  done  nothing  to  be 

234 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     235 

ashamed  of;  it  is  for  those  to  feel  ashamed  who  en 
trapped  me." 

Enough  pressure  should  be  brought  upon  the  Na 
tional  Congress  to  have  the  Government  take  favor 
able  action  on  the  removal  of  Osceola's  remains,  and 
to  do  it  at  once. 

Osceola  County,  among  all  the  counties  of  Florida, 
has  honored  this  liberty-loving  American  by  choosing 
his  historic  name,  and  the  last  resting  place  of  the 
Seminole  patriot  should  be  at  the  capital  of  the 
county  which  bears  his  name. 

With  simple  inscription,  "Osceola,  Patriot  and 
Warrior,  died  January  30,  1838,"  the  body  lies  at 
the  entrance  of  Fort  Moultrie. 

Shall  the  Seminole  hero  not  be  given  six  feet  of 
soil  in  his  native  land  for  a  grave  and  sleep  the 
sleep  of  the  brave  in  the  great  country  he  loved  so 
well? 

Commenting  upon  the  subject  of  Osceola  and  the 
removal  of  his  remains  to  Florida  soil,  the  Tampa 
Tribune  editorially  says : 

"While  the  zealous  patriots  of  the  present  genera 
tion  of  Floridians  would  desire  such  a  removal,  with 
a  fitting  ceremony  and  a  memorial  shaft  erected  to 
the  memory  of  this  American  Chieftain,  it  is  a  ques 
tion  if  South  Carolinians,  and  especially  Charleston- 
ians  would  give  up  the  body — all  that  is  left  of  the 
hero  they  gave  protection  to,  during  the  last  hours 
of  his  life  when  the  rapacity  of  the  United  States 
soldiers  jeopardized  his  existence. 

"Moreover,  the  gates  of  Charleston  have  pre- 


236     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

served  the  warrior's  grave  for  eighty  years  and  with 
the  love  of  patriotism  born  in  every  Charlestonian 
heart,  it  is  believed  that  an  interment  of  Osceola's 
bones  in  Florida  as  a  final  resting  place  would  be 
met  with  opposition  from  South  Carolina." 

A  MEMORIAL  TO  OSCEOLA. 

Representative  Frank  Clark,  of  Florida,  has  al 
ready  introduced  a  bill  in  the  Lower  House,  asking 
for  an  appropriation  of  $25,000  for  a  memorial 
monument  to  be  erected  in  honor  of  Osceola. 

Because  of  the  extravagance  of  war,  the  bill  has 
remained  in  its  initial  stage,  but  with  the  National 
Government  reverting  to  pre-war  ideas  and  the  citi 
zenship  of  the  Nation  again  building  to  the  memory 
of  her  heroes,  it  is  believed  that  the  Florida  Con 
gressman  will  have  the  support  of  his  colleagues  in 
his  efforts  to  place  a  memorial  to  the  memory  of  the 
departed  Osceola. 

The  romantic  interest  around  the  Seminole  Chief 
tain  has  been  so  enhanced  by  sympathy,  that  when 
the  Blackfeet  Indians  from  the  Northwest  came  East 
on  a  pilgrimage,  stopping  at  the  Nation's  capital  on 
the  way,  five  thousand  people  went  down  to  Charles 
ton  from  Washington  to  be  with  them  when  they 
paid  tribute  to  the  resting  place  of  the  martyred 
Osceola. 

A  BRONZE  STATUE  IN  THE  EVERGLADES. 

The  Battle  of  Okee-cho-bee !  A  battle  that  decided 
the  issues  of  two  wars  and  proved  the  fitness  of  an 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     237 

American  soldier  for  a  long  and  glorious  march  from 
the  Everglades  of  Florida  through  struggles  in  Mex 
ico  to  the  White  House  in  Washington.  Of  this  bat 
tle  in  Florida,  between  Indians  and  Americans,  many 
have  never  heard,  few  can  identify  the  locality  and 
no  national  monument  marks  the  spot. 

Turning  a  historic  searchlight  upon  this  scene  of 
eighty  years  ago,  one  sees  the  American  soldier, 
Zachary  Taylor,  meeting  the  noble  warrior  of  the 
Seminoles,  Coa-coo-chee  (Wild-Cat)  in  his  last 
struggle  for  his  country  and  his  people. 

In  the  wilds  of  the  Okee-cho-bee  country,  a  shat 
tered  remnant  of  the  Seminoles,  fought  against  the 
American  army,  with  a  victory  for  the  white  troops, 
defeat,  of  course,  for  the  Seminoles. 

The  battle  was  planned  by  Coa-coo-chee,*  who 
had  recently  escaped  from  the  musty  dungeon  at 
St.  Augustine  where  he  and  Osceola  had  been  con 
fined  after  their  capture  under  the  truce  of  the  white 
flag,  while  negotiating  with  the  American  officers. 
Coa-coo-chee,  as  if  challenging  the  American  army 
with  retaliation  and  revenge  for  the  indignity  of  such 
a  violation  of  recognized  warfare,  now  combined  his 
forces  for  one  great  battle. 

Carrying  their  little  bundles,  the  pitiful  salvage 
from  the  wreck  of  their  once  happy  homes,  the  In 
dians  had  fled  to  the  dark  haunts  of  Florida's  weird 
morasses.  With  his  people  already  encamped  in  this 
vicinity,  Coa-coo-chee  naturally  selected  the  battle 
ground  for  its  advantage  of  position,  within  easy 

*For  history  of  Coa-coo-chee    (Wild-Cat)    see  page  33. 


238     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

reach  of  his  warriors  and  by  strategy  and  decoys 
succeeded  in  leading  the  American  army  to  the  chosen 
site.  Contrary  to  the  usual  tactics  of  fighting  in 
small  bands  and  at  widely  scattered  points,  the  Semi- 
noles  staked  their  all  in  this  supreme  battle,  appar 
ently  not  awed  by  the  overwhelming  odds  of  four 
to  one. 

This  battle  brought  the  generalship  of  Colonel 
Taylor  prominently  before  the  world  and  confirmed 
the  Nation's  faith  in  him,  which  sent  him,  no  doubt, 
to  the  Mexican  battle  field. 

Here  he  was  given  the  task  of  opening  the  way 
to  the  Halls  of  the  Montezumas,  and  from  this  step 
ping  stone  he  soon  received  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States  as  a  testimonial  of  national  apprecia 
tion. 

But  of  Colonel  Taylor's  gallant  opponent,  Coa- 
coo-chee,  what  shall  we  say?  Finally  surrendering,  he 
was  put  in  chains  and  transported  with  a  ship-load 
of  his  people,  a  group  of  broken-hearted  exiles,  to 
the  waiting  ships  at  Tampa;  as  the  transports  left 
Tampa  Bay  for  the  far  western  country,  the  anguish 
of  this  oppressed,  terror-stricken  people  touched  the 
hearts  of  the  most  hardened  sailor — reduced  from  a 
powerful  nation  to  a  decimated  band  of  starving 
humanity,  they  went  silent  or  weeping  toward  the 
land  of  the  setting  sun,  driven  like  dumb  beasts  be 
fore  the  power  of  the  white  man. 

With  lingering  looks,  these  red  patriots  saw  the 
loved  scenes  of  their  homes  fade  away,  their  happy 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     239 

hunting  grounds,  the  graves  of  their  fathers — their 
beloved  Florida. 

It  was  the  closing  of  a  sad  chapter  in  American 
history.  With  the  battle  of  Okee-cho-bee,  few  are 
familiar  today.  Is  it  not  a  fitting  location  for  a  na 
tional  park,  and  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  this 
noble  chieftain  whom  we  have  so  sadly  treated? 

Upon  this  sacred  soil  a  battle  was  fought  that 
would  not  shame  the  Greeks  of  Leonidas,  nor  the 
Romans  of  ancient  days.  Today  the  white  man 
treads  heedlessly  upon  the  land,  with  no  other 
thought  than  that  of  commercialism  attuned  to  the 
jingle  of  dollars. 

In  this  beautiful  valley  of  the  "Place  of  the  Big 
Water"  the  present  Seminoles,  like  Chief  Joseph  of 
the  West,  say:  "We  love  this  land  more  than  all 
the  rest  of  the  world.  An  Indian  who  would  not 
love  his  father's  grave  is  worse  than  the  wild  beasts 
of  the  forest." 

No  finer  or  more  chivalrous  treatment  of  an 
enemy  can  be  shown  in  history  than  that  of  Coa- 
coo-chee  to  Colonel  Taylor  even  though  the  sting  of 
his  treacherous  capture  with  his  friend  Osceola  was 
fresh  in  his  mind.  No  braver  defense  was  made  at 
Thermopylae  than  was  made  in  the  hammock  on 
Lake  Okee-cho-bee.  The  site  of  the  Battle  of  Okee- 
cho-bee  is  now  before  the  eyes  of  the  world  as  a  ter 
minus  of  a  Florida  Railroad;  it  is  eminently  fitting 
that  the  American  people  make  a  plea  for  a  memo 
rial  where  Indian  and  American  may  be  honored  and 
will  be  the  means,  too,  of  bringing  graphically  before 


240     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

the  people  a  history  so  litle  known,  and  may  we  not 
hope,  a  tender  pity  for  the  vanquished  Red  Knights 
who  fought  so  bravely  for  home  and  honor. 

In  the  legends  of  the  Seminoles,  the  spirit  of  Coa- 
coo-chee  returns  once  a  year  to  visit  the  sacred  re 
treats  of  his  race. 

Would  not  the  spirit  of  this  brave  patriot  rejoice 
to  note  that  his  fame  was  known  to  his  conquerors 
and  a  memorial  erected  that  would  link  the  names 
of  the  Indians  and  the  Americans  in  this  last  battle 
for  country  and  people  ? 


THE  POCAHONTAS  OF  FLORIDA. 

U-LE-LAH,  THE  PRINCESS  OF  HIRRIHIGUA. 

Around  the  very  name  of  Florida  clings  a  wealth 
of  legend  of  romantic  interest,  and  patriotic  sugges 
tions  that  will  yield  in  beauty  and  value  to  no  other 
State  in  the  Union. 

To  close  the  pages  of  this  book,  without  giving  a 
sketch  of  the  first  heroine  of  American  romance, 
would  seem  like  depriving  the  sympathetic  reader  of 
the  glittering  pearl  that  lies  within  easy  reach  be 
neath  the  sparkle  of  the  waves. 

Almost  coincident  with  "America's  Answer"  to 
the  war  cry  of  Europe,  the  Atlantic  cables  in  peace- 
loving  contrast,  were  repeating  to  America  the  ac 
count  of  the  dedication  services  at  old  Gravesend, 
England,  to  the  memory  of  Pocahontas,  the  heroine 
of  Virginia's  early  history.  Our  late  Ambassador 
Page,  in  unveiling  the  memorial  windows,  dwelt 
largely  on  her  influence  as  a  bond  of  peace  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  So  to-day,  a 
spirit  of  thankfulness  should  come  over  us  as  in 
dividuals  and  as  a  nation  for  the  influence  of  our 
Virginia  princess. 

America  grasped  hands  with  our  English  friends 
on  this  occasion,  when  our  American  officers  and  sail- 

241 


242     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

ors  from  the  battleships  Missouri  and  Illinois  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  ceremonies. 

At  the  close  of  this  touching  ceremony  Ambassa 
dor  Page,  with  our  American  officers  and  cadets,  was 
extended  a  cordial  reception  from  the  thousands  of 
persons  who  had  assembled  inside  and  outside  the 
old  parish  church,  whose  register  bears  the  name  of 
the  Indian  princess. 

To  Florida  belongs  a  romance  not  less  fascinat 
ing  and  wonderful  than  that  of  Virginia's  Pocahon- 
tas.  But  alas,  in  the  "manana"  of  the  first  Spanish 
invaders,  much  interesting  history  was  lost  to  the 
world.  Enough  has  been  preserved,  however,  to  ex 
cite  the  imagination  and  cause  this  age  of  research  to 
go  deep  into  embalmed  records  of  centuries  ago  and 
revive  the  quaint  philosophy  of  the  old,  entrancing 
Florida. 


U-LE-LAH,  THE  POCAHONTAS  OF  FLORIDA. 

With  the  extinction  of  the  powerful  Hirrihigua 
tribe  passed  the  life  story,  tantalizing  in  its  meager- 
ness,  of  the  Indian  princess,  U-le-lah.  The  full  his 
tory  of  our  lovely  Florida  princess,  who  was  in  very 
truth  the  first  heroine  of  American  romance,  slum 
bers  in  the  unwritten  archives  of  forgotten  history, 
yet  one  dramatic  incident  in  her  life  has  been  pre 
served  to  us  to  give  us  the  right  to  call  her  "the 
Pocahontas  of  Florida,"  and  in  the  heroism  of  this 
young  Indian  girl  is  a  setting  for  as  dramatic  a  story 
as  has  been  given  to  history. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     243 

The  old  chroniclers  tell  us  that  the  word  Hirrihi- 
gua,  which  ethnologically  considered,  must  be  a  mix 
ture  of  both  Spanish  and  Indian,  was  the  name  of 
the  country  first  invaded  by  the'  Spaniard  on  Tampa 
Bay;  the  seat  of  government  of  a  mighty  tribe  of 
aborigines,  who,  according  to  Bourne's  Narratives 
of  De  Soto,  occupied  a  vast  domain  extending  from 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  makes 
the  history  and  romance  of  the  Princess  U-le-lah 
most  fascinating  and  worthy  of  special  commemora 
tion. 

FERDINAND  DE  SOTO. 

When  the  cavalier  of  Spain  in  the  person  of  the 
intrepid  Ferdinand  De  Soto,  landed  in  1539  on 
Tampa  Bay  with  all  the  pomp  and  pageantry  of  the 
Spanish  court,  he  found  himself  at  a  loss  for  inter 
preters  and  guides  to  this  wild  and  strange  land. 

Learning  of  a  young  Spaniard,  Juan  Ortez  by 
name,  who  was  the  only  survivor  of  the  great  De 
Narvaez  expedition,  and  who  had  been  captive  of  the 
Indians  for  ten  years,  De  Soto  quickly  sought  to  find 
him  in  order  to  use  him  as  a  guide  for  his  con 
quest. 

The  history  of  this  young  Spaniard,  who  is  re 
ported  to  have  been  handsome,  together  with  the  sav 
ing  of  his  life  at  a  crucial  moment  by  the  daughter  of 
the  proud  old  Chieftain  of  Hirrihigua,  parallels  that 
of  the  Virginia  annals,  of  Pocahontas  and  John 
Smith,  and  antedates  this  epoch-making  history  of 
Virginia  almost  one  hundred  years.  In  memory  of 


244     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

Pocahontas,  the  Lady  Rebecca  of  the  English  courts, 
toasts  of  all  England  have  been  given;  entertain 
ments  have  been  planned  in  her  honor,  and  medals 
have  been  struck  off  to  commemorate  her  visit  to  the 
imperial  court  of  James  the  First. 

The  proudest  blood  of  Virginia  runs  through  her 
descendants  and  every  history  of  white  America  gives 
the  tragic  story  of  her  heroism  and  her  instru 
mentality  in  saving  Virginia  to  the  Caucasians. 

Of  U-le-lah,  our  Florida  princess,  whose  heroic 
stand  and  womanly  courage  stand  out  as  the  peer 
of  any  character  in  history,  we  know  but  little  and 
honor  has  been  withheld,  not  only  as  an  Indian 
princess  whose  father  was  the  emperor  of  an  un 
bounded  area,  but  as  a  historical  character  of 
gracious  personality.  She  was  truly  the  heroine  of 
the  first  American  romance,  where  honor,  dignity 
and  a  woman's  heart  shone  forth,  and  as  Floridans, 
we  should  endeavor  to  memorialize  her  name  and  her 
deeds  in  the  history  of  America.  A  brief  sketch  of 
this  young  Indian  girl  is  appended. 

Juan  Ortez,  a  Spanish  youth  deserted  by  his  com 
rades,  was  captured  on  the  shores  of  Tampa  Bay  by 
the  Indians,  and  taken  to  their  chief  U-ci-ta.  This 
chief  was  the  reigning  monarch  of  this  southern 
province  of  Hirrihigua,  and  thoroughly  embittered 
against  the  butchery  his  people  had  suffered  at  the 
hands  of  De  Soto,  was  ready  to  wreak  vengeance  on 
the  pale  face,  the  only  survivor  of  the  De  Narvaez 
expedition. 

Florida,  from  the  day  the  first  Spanish  invaders, 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     245 

with  blood-hounds,  chains,  battle-axes  and  sabres,  set 
foot  upon  her  flower-bordered  soil,  has  been  a  battle 
ground.  Her  sands  have  run  red  with  blood  of  the 
innocent  native,  who  always  held  out  a  hand  of  wel 
come  and  gave  sustenance  from  his  well  filled  store 
houses,  while  the  newcomers  ever  practiced  the  same 
atrocities  and  butcheries  that  have  been  perpetrated 
upon  the  Indians  of  America,  although  with  greater 
cruelties  and  no  restraining  power. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  proud  chief  of  Hirrihi- 
gua  wished  to  be  relieved  entirely  of  every  vestige  of 
white  blood,  for,  added  to  the  rapacities  from  which 
he  and  his  tribe  had  suffered,  the  Narvaez  expedition 
had  even  subjected  the  chief's  mother  to  the  most 
atrocious  cruelties,  and  thus  his  desire  for  vengeance 
upon  this  representative  of  the  white  intruders  was 
natural.  With  revenge  uppermost  in  his  mind,  the 
chief  ordered  Juan  Ortez  to  be  bound  hand  and  foot 
and  placed  upon  a  rack  made  of  poles — and  to  be 
slowly  burned  to  death. 

As  history  records  the  account  of  this  tragic  scene, 
the  beautiful  daughter  of  U-ci-ta,  who  was  about  the 
same  age  as  the  handsome  Spaniard,  when  she  saw 
the  dreadful  fate  about  to  be  inflicted  upon  the 
young  white  stranger,  rushed  to  the  burning  fagots, 
and  braving  the  anger  of  her  all-powerful  father, 
threw  herself  at  his  feet  and  implored  him  to  spare 
the  life  of  the  captive  youth,  urging  and  pleading 
with  all  the  compassion  of  a  woman's  heart,  that  this 
white  stranger  had  done  no  injury  and  that  it  was 
nobler  for  a  brave  and  lofty  chief  like  U-ci-ta  to  keep 


246     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

the  youth  a  captive  than  to  sacrifice  so  mere  a  lad  to 
his  revenge. 

Looking  back  four  centuries,  a  vision  rises.  We 
stand  in  the  midst  of  an  aboriginal  people.  A  tragic 
scene  is-  before  us.  We  see  Indians  wreaking  ven 
geance  for  the  wrong  inflicted  upon  them,  and  a  stern 
visaged  chieftain,  whose  word  is  law,  in  command. 
A  boyish  form  is  bound  upon  a  rack  of  fagots,  with 
the  flames  already  gently  licking  the  poles  and  creep 
ing  to  his  helpless  body.  All  at  once  a  trembling, 
girlish  form  rushes  to  the  rescue,  and  with  the  plead 
ing  of  a  compassionate  woman,  forgetting  her  own 
natural  resentment  for  the  past  wrongs  done  for  her 
kindred,  touches  her  stern  and  stoical  father  and 
secures  the  release  of  the  captive  youth. 

This  was  the  youth  Ortez,  who,  released  from  his 
fiery  bed,  was  cared  for  by  his  gentle  protector,  his 
burned  flesh  bound  and  dressed,  and  under  her  gen 
tle  administrations  restored  to  health,  and  as  an  act 
of  honor  he  was  given  the  position  of  guard  over  the 
sepulchres  of  the  dead.  It  was  the  custom  to  place 
the  dead  upon  scaffolds,  and,  as  these  sepulchres  in 
those  wilderness  days  were  beset  by  wolves  and  wild 
cats,  a  guard  watched  over  them  day  and  night. 

Ortez  guarded  these  mausoleums  through  the 
lonely  hours  of  the  night  and  grew  in  great  favor 
with  the  haughty  chieftain;  but  one  night,  so  the 
narrative  goes,  a  wolf  carried  away  the  body  of  a 
child  of  a  chief.  Ortez  threw  an  arrow  and  wounded 
it,  but  did  not  know  that  the  child  had  been  taken. 
The  next  morning  the  loss  of  the  child's  body  was 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     247 

made  known,  and  Ortez  ordered  to  be  put  to  death. 
Some  friendly  Indians,  following  on  the  trail  of  the 
wolf,  discovered  the  child,  and  the  wolf  lying  dead 
just  beyond  it.  The  chief,  with  a  justice  ever  be 
longing  to  the  American  Indian,  being  satisfied  of 
the  faithfulness  of  Ortez,  took  him  again  into 
favor. 

For  three  years  this  young  Spaniard,  now  only 
twenty-one  years  old,  continued  to  live  with  the  Hir- 
rihigua  tribe,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  a  fierce  war 
broke  out  between  old  Chief  U-ci-ta  and  a  neighbor 
ing  tribe.  According  to  the  savage  custom  of  those 
days,  in  order  to  insure  a  victory,  it  was  decreed  that 
a  sacrifice  must  be  made,  and  the  Spanish  youth  was 
selected  as  the  victim. 

Again  U-le-lah,  the  counselor  and  friend  of  her 
father,  and  still  the  faithful  friend  of  the  white 
stranger,  came  at  night  and  warned  him  that  he  had 
been  selected  to  be  sacrificed  the  next  morning.  This 
act  was  wholly  one  of  womanly  courage  and  com 
passion,  and  not  for  any  sentimental  consideration 
for  the  handsome  young  Spaniard,  for  this  Indian 
princess  was  betrothed  to  the  Chief  Mucoso  of  an 
other  tribe. 

At  the  midnight  hour  she  came  and  guided  him 
on  his  way  a  half  a  league  to  her  lover,  sending  as 
guards  and  envoys  two  friendly  and  trustworthy 
Indians. 

Juan  Ortez,  with  his  guides,  traveled  all  night, 
and  morning  found  him  on  the  boundary  of  Mucoso's 
territory,  where  he  was  met  by  the  lover  of  his  fair 


248     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

protector  and  received  with  the  assurance,  so  early 
historians  chronicle,  "that  if  any  white  men  ever 
came  to  his  country,  he  would  allow  him  to  go  back 
with  them." 

The  old  chief  of  Hirrihigua,  much  chagrined  at 
his  daughter's  conduct  in  usurping  his  kingly  author 
ity,  demanded  of  Mucoso  the  return  of  Ortez.  Mu- 
coso  refused  and  his  refusal  caused  such  a  breach  be 
tween  the  two  monarchs  of  these  big  provinces  that  it 
was  several  years  before  Mucoso  claimed  the  fair 
Indian  princess  as  his  bride.  With  true  Indian  honor 
he  sacrificed  his  love  for  a  principle,  and  continued 
to  protect  the  Spanish  captive. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  in  history  to  know  that 
Ortez  remained  with  Mucoso  for  eight  years,  until 
the  landing  of  De  Soto,  to  whom  Mucoso,  keeping 
his  pledge  to  Ortez,  sent  him  under  a  guard  of  sev 
eral  Indians. 

Ortez,  now  become  one  of  De  Soto's  band,  was 
however  destined  to  live  but  a  short  time,  for  De 
Soto,  with  no  other  object  than  conquest  and  search 
for  gold,  such  as  he  had  learned  under  the  way  of 
the  relentless  Pizarro  in  the  land  of  Incas  (traversed 
the  country  murdering  and  plundering  the  innocent 
natives  until  they  reached  the  Mississippi,  where,  it  is 
recorded,  Ortez  died  only  a  short  time  before  death 
claimed  the  proud  and  relentless  De  Soto. 

PRINCESS  OF  HIRRIHIGUA. 

Of  the  noble-hearted  Indian  princess,  little  more 
is  known,  but  as  a  heroine,  she  is  truly  the  peer  of  the 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     249 

long-famed  Pocahontas,  and  her  history  must  touch 
every  romance-loving  heart. 

All  Florida  should  feel  a  pride  in  the  name  of  this 
Indian  girl,  for  to  her  alone  is  credited  the  heroism 
of  saving  the  life  of  the  only  Caucasian  at  that  time 
on  the  southern  shores  of  Florida.  For  her  com 
passion  and  womanly  tenderness,  for  her  heroic  stand 
for  justice,  this  Florida  princess  is  deserving,  even 
after  four  centuries,  of  recognition  and  upon  the 
brow  of  U-le-lah,  the  Princess  of  Hirrihigua,  should 
be  lovingly  placed  laurels  of  gold,  and  her  name  com 
memorated  in  American  annals. 

Particularly  should  Florida  rise  to  the  occasion 
by  publishing  to  the  nation  the  glorification  of  her 
own  aboriginal  princess,  and  proclaiming  to  the 
world  memorial  tributes  commending  her  bravery 
and  her  virtue. 


Vocabulary 


INTRODUCTION  TO  VOCABULARY  * 

In  presenting  the  following  words,  phrases  and 
sentences  to  the  public,  we  beg  to  add  a  few  explana 
tions.  The  words  have  been  obtained  from  the 
Indians  themselves.  To  collect  words  from  an  In 
dian  requires  patience  at  any  time,  and  in  dealing  with 
the  Seminoles  particularly  so.  The  Florida  Indian  is 
suspicious  of  the  white  man,  and  until  a  confidence 
was  established  and  a  friendship  formed,  it  was  impos 
sible  to  obtain  any  accuracy  from  him.  To  secure  the 
words  in  this  work  methods  were  devised,  in  order  to 
have  the  Seminole  fully  understand  the  collector, 
as  well  as  to  enable  the  collector  to  grasp  with  a 
certainty  the  Indian's  meaning.  As  will  be  seen  by 
a  close  study  of  the  vocabulary,  the  noun  does  more 
than  simply  denote  the  thing  to  which  it  belongs; 
it  also  assigns  to  it  some  quality  or  characteristic. 
As  for  instance  the  word  elephant.  The  Indian 
had  never  seen  an  elephant,  but  on  being  shown 
one  in  a  circus  parade,  after  a  careful  thinking,  he 
named  it,  "  e-po-lo-wa-kee  " — "  heap  long  nose." 
Great  latitude  is  thus  permitted  in  an  Indian  vocabu 
lary.  On  account  of  non-intercourse  with  a  civilized 
race  the  Seminole  language  is  very  pure.  Economy 
in  speech  is  followed,  the  highest  aim*  of  the  Indian 
being  to  express  in  a  single  word  both  action  and  ob 
ject.  Every  cluster-word  is  a  description  or  a  defi- 

1  Vocabulary  prepared  by  J.  M.  Willson  Jr. 

253 


254    THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

nition.  The  study  of  an  unwritten  language  finds  its 
phonology  difficult.  In  this  collection,  the  words  are 
spelled  phonetically;  the  accent  and  division  into  syl 
lables  are  indicated  to  assist  the  student  to  make  the 
correct  pronunciation.  Not  only  were  these  words 
given  in  good  faith  by  the  Indians  with  the  present 
use  in  view,  but  each  succeeding  year,  as  we  visited 
the  Glades  for  a  hunt,  the  various  members  of  the 
tribe  showed  decided  interest  in  our  note  book,  as 
sisting  in  revising  the  words  by  going  over  and  over 
again  the  Seminole  meaning  and  accent.  The  Semi- 
nole  has  a  keen  sense  of  humor.  As  we  gathered 
words  and  phrases  many  amusing  incidents  occurred, 
always  at  our  expense  and  to  the  greatest  merriment 
of  the  Indians. 

To  Tallahassee  we  are  indebted  for  much  of  this 
vocabulary,  as  well  as  for  many  interesting  incidents 
and  fragments  of  the  history;  yet  it  was  not  until  the 
fourth  year  of  acquaintance  that  the  old  chief,  beside 
the  dying  embers  of  our  camp  fire  at  the  midnight 
hour,  opened  his  heart  and  told  the  story  of  his  peo 
ple,  their  myths,  religion,  legends  —  their  heartaches. 
The  night  was  chilly,  the  old  chief  lost  in  his  own 
earnestness  drew  his  tunic  closer  about  him,  yet  the 
writer  could  not  say  "  it  is  late  —  you  are  cold."  It 
was  a  golden  opportunity;  a  word,  the  rustle  of  a 
branch  and  the  current  would  have  changed.  Until 
daybreak,  in  his  broken  English  Tallahassee  told  his 
story.  Never  before,  nor  ever  since  has  such  an 
occasion  presented  itself. 


VOCABULARY  * 
PERSONS 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Es-ta-chat-tee   Indian. 

Es-ta-had-kee    White  man. 

Es-ta-lus-tee    Negro. 

Ho-non-waw    Man. 

Hoke-tee Woman. 

Ach-o-be-li-tee    Old  man. 

Hoke-tee-li-tee    Old  woman. 

Ho-non-wa-mi-nit-ti-tee Young  man. 

Hoke-tee-ti-mi-nit-ti-tee Young  woman. 

Che-pon-no-shi-tee    Boy. 

Hoke-ti-chee Girl. 

Est-to-chee    Infant. 

Ho-non-o-chee    Male  infant. 

Hoke-to-chee    Female  infant. 

Poke-taw    Twins. 

E-hi-wa-o-chit-ee    Married  man. 

E-hi-was-ko    Bachelor. 

E-hi-wa-se-ko   Widower. 

E-hi-lif  t-mus-chee    Widow. 

E-he-see-ko    Old  maid. 

E-he-see-ko-hoke-ti-lee    The  old  people. 

Es-tee-min-nit-tee    A  great  talker. 

O-pa-na-ki-tee    A  silent  person. 

Host-cope-e-taw   Thief. 

Host-cope-e-gost-chee Not  a  thief. 

1  In  this  vocabulary  the  words  are  arranged  according  to 
their  subject  or  character,  no  attention  being  paid  to  alphabetical 
succession. 

255 


256     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 
PARTS  OF  THE  BODY 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

E-caw Head. 

E-caw-e-see Hair. 

E-caw-hos-pee    Crown  of  head, 

Torso-f  aw    Face. 

Ka-ho-waw Forehead. 

E-tox-lo-waw   Eye. 

Tose-lis-kee Eye  lash. 

To-do-no-lup-pa-is-see    Eye  brow. 

Tode-le-wa-hos-pee    Upper  eyelid. 

Tode-le-list-la-hos-pee    Lower  eyelid. 

Hots-cote-es-caw    Ear  lobe. 

E-hots-ko    Ear. 

Hots-caw-pof-ef-caw    Perforation  in  ear. 

Hots-caw-ko-kee    Opening  of  ear. 

E-ho-po Nose. 

E-po-fo-nee Ridge  of  nose. 

E-po-haw-kee   Nostril. 

E-yan-i-waw Cheek. 

No-ti-ka-is-see    Beard. 

E-choke-o-waw    Mouth. 

Choke-hos  pon-a-paw   Upper  lip. 

Choke-hos-pee Lower  lip. 

E-no-tee-ho-maw    Front  teeth. 

E-no-tee-lock-ko   Back  teeth. 

To-los-waw    Tongue. 

E-to-ka-lo-swaw  Saliva. 

Sin-no-ka-nil-caw   Throat. 

No-ti-caw   Chin. 

No-ka-pee  Neck. 

No-quif-pa-tock-ock-naw   Adam's  apple. 

E-naw-chee Body. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     257 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

E-faw-chaw    Shoulder. 

Fo-lotaw-pix-taw •--. Shoulder  blade. 

E-claw    Back. 

E-claw-fo-nee Back  bone. 

E-hoke-pee    Breast  of  man. 

E-pee-see Breast  of  woman. 

Im-po-loke-cho   Hip. 

E-horcho-waw Navel. 

E-shock-paw Arm. 

In-clop-pe-claw Right  arm. 

Aw-clos-clin-aw    Left  arm. 

Ho-lo-wa-to-tee-ta-gaw    Arm  pits. 

Sock-pof-o-nee    Right  arm  above  elbcw. 

Aw-kos-ko-nof-o-nee Left  arm  above  elbow. 

E-ko-chee    Elbow. 

In-tee-ti-pix-tee-e-toke-kee-tay-gaw    .  .  Wrist. 

In-tee-ti-pix-tee    Hand. 

In-ko-faw   Palm  of  hand. 

In-tee-ta-pix-tee-e-naw-pa    Back  of  hand. 

In-ka-we-sa-kaw Fingers. 

Som-kit-kee Thumb. 

Som-kil-smil-kaw    First  finger. 

In-ka-nock-klo-pa-ho-e-claw    Second  finger. 

In-ka-ho-klif-claw-such-lo    Third  finger. 

In-ka  its-ho-chee-wa-chee   Small  finger. 

In-hits-kee-in-kose-es-waw    Finger  nail. 

In-ka-we-sock-ka-e-to-pee    Knuckle. 

In-ka-yock-pee    Space  between  knuckj  cs, 

E-tol-kay Rump. 

Chee-hof-ee Leg  above  knee. 

E-tolk-wa-po-la-ko Knee. 

Tose-to-po-la-ko Knee  pan. 

Chee-host-go-waw Leg  below  knee. 


258     THE  SEiMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

E-lim-pock-ko Calf  of  leg. 

E-lay-toke-to-swaw    Ankle. 

E-lit-ta-pfx-tee-e-fo-cho-to-kee-not-ee  .  Instep. 

Es-tel-e-po Foot. 

Es-tel-e-ho-faw   Sole  of  foot. 

E-lich-es-caw    Heel. 

Es-tel-e-e-sa-caw Toe. 

Es-tel-e-eeds-kee   Large  toe. 

Es-tel-e-nock-clay-ho-e-claw Second  toe. 

E-la-ni-ka-so-swaw * Toe  nail. 

Chaw-taw Blood. 

Chaw-tee-f o-kaw    Vein  or  artery. 

Istee-e-kol-pee    Brain  (man). 

E-kol-pee    Brain. 

E-ho-sil-waw    Bladder. 

E-fee-caw   Heart. 

E-pof-caw Around  the  heart. 

E-to-chee    Kidney. 

In-hee-shock-e-taw   Lung. 

E-lo-pee    Liver. 

Im-pa-shaw Stomach. 

In-ta-law    Rib. 

In-ka-shock-a-tee    .  : Pulse. 

Es-tel-e-hop-o   Foot  print 

Shon-aw-haf t-bee    Skin. 

Shon-aw-fon-ee Bone. 

Fix-chee-e-la-pots-kee   Intestines. 

Cho-pock-e-taw    Scalp. 

DRESS  AND  ORNAMENTS 

Cot-to-po-kaw Cap. 

E-kof-kaw  .  .  .  Breech  cloth. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA    259 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

She-won-nock-e-taw  .  „ Breech  cloth  belt. 

Aw-fa-tee-kaw    Leggins. 

Stil-i-pi-kaw    Moccasins. 

Som-po-chee    Basket. 

Ech-e-taw Blanket. 

Lo-cus-haft-ee-pa-ta-kaw    Bear  skin   (robe). 

E-cho-haft-ee-pa-ta-kaw    Deer  skin  (robe). 

Cho-see Buck  skin  or  snake  skin, 

Cho-f ee-haft-bee   Rabbit  skin. 

O-sho-aw-haf t-bee    Beaver  skin. 

O-shon-aw-haf t-bee    Otter  skin. 

Co-lo-waw    Paint. 

Co-lo-waw-la-nee   Paint   (yellow). 

Co-lo-wa-lus-tee   Paint  (black). 

Co-lo-wa-chaw-tee    Paint  (red). 

Shoke-shot-ta-pix-chee    Pouch. 

Stink-ko-shot-ti-tee-caw    A  ring. 

Cop-a-to-ca-och-aco    Bare  head. 

Es-tel-e-pi-e-ca-och-a-co   Bare  foot. 

E-ca-e-pee Naked. 

She-won-nock-e-ta-sa-lof-kaw    Knife  belt. 

Co-na-waw Beads. 

Hi-ef-cof-ka-taw Shirt. 

Stil-a-pa-won-hee    Shoes. 

Note-tes-chee    Handkerchief. 

Es-ti-ha-kee    Picture. 

Osh-aw-kil-caw-e-fa-caw    Watch  chain. 

Osh-aw-kil-caw    Watch. 

She-ma-caw    Fan. 

Shit-ta-kee-caw Walking  cane. 


26o     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 
DWELLINGS,  IMPLEMENTS,  UTENSILS,  ETC 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Cho-co-ta-ti-yee    Village. 

Cho-co-hum-co-see    Wigwam. 

E-how-kee Door  way. 

We-chow-hi-lit Spark. 

No-clit    Burn. 

Tode-caw   Fire. 

Tock-hot-chee Fire  wood    (burning) 

Lip-ia-it    Blaze. 

Toke-la-waw    Living  coals. 

Tock-ees-so Ashes. 

Eh-cho-chee    Smoke. 

Aw-lock-a-taw-chaw-ho-tee   My  home. 

Aw-ho-gee    . . '. Door  way. 

Pa-ta-caw   Bed. 

Shot-hote-caw Door. 

Cho-ko    House. 

Ko-lo-kee    Lamp. 

Osh-aw-kil-caw-lock-o   Clock. 

To-paw .  Floor. 

Cho-ko-no-paw   Ceiling. 

Cho-ko-shaw-hose-paw-caw    Wall. 

Ot-so-caw   Stairway. 

We-wa-ese-pay-lot-caw    Spring. 

We-wa   Water. 

E-pee-lo-faw  Hommock   (woods) . 

E-con-aw-aw-ho-pa-caw Map. 

See-la-hot-tit-taw    Railing. 

Tode-ca-e-ho-tee Stove. 

We-wa-ho-tee Water  tank. 

Ho-e-so-clope-pa-lock-a-naw    Wash  bowl. 

In-ka-e-to-shi-eets-caw   Towel. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     261 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

To-how-how-waw    Trunk. 

So-cose-caw Soap. 

Sin-ti-ne-ta-pi-ee-to-caw Whisk  broom. 

Ees-cos-caw    Comb. 

E-fa-ko-lock-o    Rope  (cable). 

Shot-hit-go-chee    Glass  tumbler. 

Tose-to-lese-taw  Wagon. 

Tose-to-lese-ta-pof-na-ehee Buggy. 

Aw-ta-lit-taw   Clothes  hooks. 

E-shaw-ho-tee Gun  cover. 

Chot-a-dox-cha-in-che    Arrow. 

Bith-low  Canoe. 

Sar-sho-e-fa-caw   Fish  line. 

Whe-ah    : Fish  net. 

Hi-eets-caw    Accordeon. 

Tock-kee-so    Ashes. 

Buch-es-waw    Ax. 

Polk-ko Pottery. 

Le-ho-chaw Pot  of  pottery. 

Chat-o-lon-ee    Brass. 

Che-to-ko-lope-lon-ee    Gold. 

Sha-teek-e-naw-yaw    Silver. 

Shot-to    Iron. 

Hi-lo-chee Cup. 

We-wa-sis-ca-taw Dipper. 

Sto-caw Bucket. 

E-slof-ka-pee    Knife  handle. 

E-slof-ka-e-ock-shaw Knife  point. 

E-slof-ka-e-in-fos-kee    Knife  edge. 

Sa-lof-ka Knife. 

Chum-chaw-cha-lock-ko Bell. 

Chum-chaw-ko  Small  bell. 

Shif-fon-waw   .  Awl. 


262     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

To-shay-sil-caw    Whang  (for  sewing  moccasins), 

We-hop-caw  Pillow. 

To-hi-o-waw    Valise. 

To-ho-to-waw    Powder. 

Ho-tee Powder  can. 

Shaw-toke-e-naw-waw   Money. 

To-ko-naw-shaw-tee One  cent. 

Na-kop-po-chee Ten  cents. 

Con-shot-go-ho-ko-lin Fifty  cents. 

Chalk    Twenty-five  cents. 

To-ko-naw-wa-hum-kin    One  dollar. 

To-ko-naw-wa-cha-kee-birr    Five  dollars. 

E-sho-gaw    File. 

Ees-how-ees-caw Key. 

Ees-pas-caw    Broom. 

Chot-to-go-chee    Mallet. 

Op-pee    Broomstick. 

Tock-o-take-go-chee   Common  stick. 

Im-mi-lay-sha-taw    Court  plaster. 

Tose-ka-lof-caw    Plane. 

E-to    Wood. 

Tock-kin-o-shaw Brick. 

Ok-e-fots-chay    Sea  shell. 

To-hop-kee   Fence. 

Ho-lo-paw    Walk  (pavement). 

Chat-o-ko-cho Cartridge. 

Hi-eets-e-fa-caw   Guitar  string. 

O-like-a-taw   Chair. 

To-paw Floor. 

Es-ti-ha-kee    Picture. 

Tol-lo-faw    Town. 

Ist-fon-o-kee-taw    Rocking  chair. 

E-skil-caw Compass. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     263 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Shock-shaw-e-taw Dip  net 

Ti-sos-so-chee   Pin. 

Ees-la-pode-caw    Needle. 

Ees-ti-no-tee-some-fo-tee-taw Tooth  pick. 

Shoke-chaw;    Sack. 

It-to-tee-ish-fo-gaw    Ice  saw. 

It-to-tee-butch-es-waw   .Ice  hatchet. 

It-to-tee-in-so-go    Ice  house. 

It-to-tee-saw-gaw   Ice  machine. 

It-to-tee-ock-les-waw    Ice  moulds. 

It-to-tee-she-lot-caw   Ice  tongs. 

It-to-tee-we-waw    Ice  water. 

To-fo-ga-leg-a-mee Saw  dust. 

To-fo-la-hi-lee    Cord  wood. 

To-to-lese-pof-a-naw-o-cho-go    Railroad  car. 

Phon-e-o-hop-ee    Fishing  pole. 

Sho-a-los-ga-taw    Hammock  ( to  swing) . 

Ko-lo-kee-e-ho-tee Lantern. 

Tol-lot-to-chee   Brush. 

O-pa-tock-o    Saddle. 

E-ho-e-lit-taw Stirrup. 

She-lop-ko-chif-ko-taw   Spur. 

Ach-aw-kil-caw-lock-o    Clock. 

E-sho-e-caw Hoe. 

Hot-cus-waw    Iron  kettle. 

Ta-pate-go-chee    Pistol. 

Ich-chaw    Gun. 

E-chaw   Rifle. 

To-lo-to-lon-e    Cap   (percussion). 

To-hote-to-waw   Powder. 

Wee-aw    Seine. 

Sa-lof-ka-chop-ka    Sword. 

Sa-lof-ka-chee  Knife    (small). 


264     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Sa-lof-ka-fots-kee    Knife  (sharp) . 

Sa-lof-ka-tof-nee Knife  (dull). 

FOOD 

To-lee-ko    Oatmeal. 

O-chee-tot-o-la-go-chee Corn  bread. 

Tot-o-lo-som-po-chee    Cake. 

Pish-waw   Meat. 

O-po-swaw   Soup. 

Tock-a-la-kee   Bread  (flour). 

Och-chee-lo-wat-kee Corn  (green). 

Wa-ka-pish-aw Milk. 

Chum-pee   Honey. 

Yel-la-haw   Lemonade. 

Fo-chum-pee Bees  and  honey. 

Ist-sa-tock-ko    Cauliflower. 

O-ko-to Radish. 

Oke-chon-tel-o-ko-nee Salt. 

Il-la-haw Orange. 

Itch-on-e-haw Tallow. 

Ho-waw   Pepper  sauce. 

E-cho-pish-waw    Deer  meat. 

Chil-i-hos-waw Pineapple. 

Wa-ka-pish-aw- tock-o-la-kee    Cheese. 

Tol-o-so-caw    Cocoanut. 

Chos-chee-lock-o Pumpkin  (whiteman's) 

Chos-chee   Pumpkin    ( Indian) . 

E-po-see-waw   . . Gravy. 

Fit-chee Sausage. 

We-len-tel-lo    Banana. 

Hil-o-cho-waw   Chewing  gum. 

Wa-ka-pish-a-ne-haw   Butter. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     265 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Wa-ka-pish-e-e-tok-chee    Sour  milk. 

Wat-ka-fit-chee    Sausage  (beef) . 

Suck-a-fit-chee    Sausage  (pork). 

Ho-tes-kot-tee-hot-kee    Flour. 

Whit-lo-ko    Oysters. 

Aw-haw Potato  (sweet) . 

Tol-o-la-go-chee   Biscuit. 

Aw-hot-to-pox-to-chee    Potato  (Irish). 

Cot-lo-chee   Sardines. 

Aw-pis-ta-lake-a-to-me Potted  ham. 

Tock-a-la-kee-chom-paw    Ginger  cake   (large). 

Ho-maw   Pickles. 

Pe-kon-o-soch-o-chee Cherries. 

Tock-a-fon-waw Filbert. 

Shot-o-lock-o Apple. 

Chil-loos-wa  Grapes. 

Tock-a-la-kee-chum-po-chee Cake  (small). 

COLORS 

Lus-tee    Black. 

Ho-lot-tee    Blue. 

Ho-ko-lon-i-tee Brown. 

Sho-po-ka-hot-ka-chee*    Grey. 

Pi-e-lon-o-maw Green. 

Chat-tee    Red. 

Hot-ka-tee    White. 

NUMERALS 

Hum-kin One. 

Ho-ko-lin    Two. 

Too-chin Three. 

Os-tin   , .  Four. 


266     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Chaw-kee-bin    Five. 

A-pa-kin    Six. 

Ko-lo-pa-kin    Seven. 

Chin-na-pa-kin    Eight. 

Os-ta-pa-kin   Nine. 

Pa-lin    Ten. 

Pa-lin-hum-kin-hum-kin    Eleven. 

Pa-lin-hum-kin-ho-ko-lin    Twelve. 

Pa-lin-hum-kin-too-chin Thirteen. 

Pa-lin-hum-kin-os-tin   Fourteen. 

Pa-lin-ho-ko-lin    Twenty. 

Pa-lin-ho-ko-lin-hum-kin    Twenty-one. 

Pa-lin-ho-ko-lin-too-chin    Twenty-three. 

Pa-lin-too-chin    Thirty. 

Pa-lin-os-tin    Forty. 

Pa-lin-chaw-kee-bin    Fifty. 

Pa-lin-a-pa-kin    Sixty. 

Pa-lin-ko-la-pa-kin    Seventy. 

Pa-lin-chin-na-pa-kin    Eighty. 

Pa-lin-os-ta-pa-kin    Ninety. 

Chope-kee-hum-kin One  hundred. 

Chope-kee-ho-ko-lin    Two  hundred. 

Chope-kee-too-chin-ee    Three  hundred. 

DIVISIONS  OF  TIME 

Ti-ose-go-chee    First  moon    (August). 

Ti-ose-go-lock-o    Second  moon  (September). 

E-ho-lee    .Third  moon  (October). 

Si-lof-slop-ko    Fourth  moon  (November), 

Si-lof-so-kee    Fifth  moon  (December), 

Ho-ti-lee-has-ee Sixth  moon  (January), 

Ti-sot-to-chee Seventh   moon    (February), 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     267 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Ti-sot-to-lock-o Eighth  moon  (March) . 

Kee-hos-ee Ninth   moon    (April) . 

Got-so-hos-ee    Tenth  moon   (May). 

Hi-yote-chee   Eleventh  moon  (June). 

Hi-yote-lock-o Twelfth  moon  (July) 

Mis-kee-hum-kin    One  year. 

Ha-lits-chey    ,  . .  ,Moon. 

Nit-taw    Day. 

Nist-lee    Night. 

U-mus-ka-taw    Dark. 

Pox-son-gay    Yesterday. 

Pox-son-gay-lim-pix-son-gay    Day  before  yesterday. 

A-pox-see-lim-pox-say-nist-lee    .  . .  Day  after  to-morrow  night. 

Mo-shon-nit-taw    Today. 

A-pox-see    To-morrow. 

A-pox-see-lim-pox-say Day  after  to-morrow. 

Mis-kee-hum-kee    Next   year. 

Mo-shon-mis-kee    This  year. 

Mis-kee-ho-ko-lin   Two  years. 

Mis-kee-too-chin-aw Three  years. 

Nit-ti-chow-go-hum-kin   One  week. 

Nit-ti-chow-go-ho-ko-lin    Two  weeks. 

Nit-ti-chow-go-too-chin-aw    Three  weeks. 

Nit-ta-hum-kin One  day. 

Nit-ta-ho-ko-lin    Two  days. 

Nit-ta-too-chin-aw   Three  days. 

Nit-ta-os-tin    Four  days. 

Mo-shon-nist-lee To-night. 

A-pox-see-nist-lee   To-morrow  night. 

Mo-cho-hos-see This  moon. 

Hos-see-hum-kee  .  ...  Next  moon 


268     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Osh-aw-kil-hum-kin One  o'clock. 

Osh-aw-kil-ho-ko-lin    Two  o'clock. 

ANIMALS,  PARTS  OF  BODY,  ETC. 

Lo-ko-see    Bear  (black). 

Ko-wat-go-chee Cat  (wild). 

E-f aw   Dog. 

E-cho    Deer. 

Chil-la    Fox. 

E-cho- wa-a-taw    Goat  (mountain). 

Su-caw-pin-si-law Hog  (wild). 

E-chos-waw    Manatee  or  sea  cow. 

Tock-o   Mole. 

O-shen-aw    Otter. 

Su-caw-hot-caw    Opossum. 

Ches-she    Rat. 

Cho-fee Rabbit. 

Cho-fee-chaw-hot-ee Rabbit  (grey). 

Wood-ko    Raccoon. 

Klo-hi-lee    Squirrel. 

Klo-hot-go-chee    Squirrel    (grey). 

Klo-hi-lee-chaw-tee Squirrel  (red). 

Yee-haw   Wolf. 

Kon-kla-po-chee   Chameleon. 

E-cho-yi-pee    Antlers. 

Wa-ka-e-fo-nee Bone  (cow). 

Fit-chee-law-pots-kee    Entrails. 

Nee-haw  Fat. 

Wa-ka-haft-bee Hide  (cow). 

Yi-pee    Horn. 

Fit-chee-lock-o    Stomach. 

E-hot-chee        Tail. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OE  FLORIDA     269 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

E-no-tee    Teeth. 

E-po-lo-wa-kee   Elephant. 

Chil-lock-o    Horse. 

Chil-lock-o-chee    Colt. 

Chil-lock-o-pi-e-caw   Mule. 

Wal-ka-ho-non-waw    Ox. 

Wal-ka-chee  Calf. 

Suck-aw   Hog. 

Po-sha-chee Cat. 

Yep-e-f a-e-caw    Sheep. 

E-f a-chee    Puppy. 

Cho-wa-taw    Goat. 

Wal-ka Cow. 

BIRDS 

O-so-waw Bird. 

O-chot-aw Black  bird. 

Shock-kil--law Black  bird  (red  wing). 

Wa-to-law    Whooping  crane. 

O-shaw-o-waw   Crow. 

Hi-lo-lo    Curlew. 

Hi-lo-lo-chaw-tee  Curlew  (pink). 

Posh-e-ho-we    Dove. 

Fo-cho • . . . .  Duck. 

Hat-tit-e-fon-caw  Eagle. 

Sho-caw    Hawk. 

Sho-ko-chee    Sparrow  hawk. 

Hos-cho-kee-waw Fish  hawk. 

Wak-ko-lot-ko    Heron   (great  blue). 

Wak-ko-lot-ko-o-hi-lot-tee Heron   (little  blue). 

Fost-chi-taw   Red  bird. 

Hi-lo-lo Ibis  (white) . 


270     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Tos-chee  Jay  (blue). 

Pen-na-waw    Turkey. 

We-hot-ko-fo-sho-wo-chee    Snipe. 

Eash-pock-a-waw    Robin. 

Fost-chi-taw Red  bird. 

Sho-lee    Vulture. 

Sho-lee-pee-los-pes-ko Vulture  (black). 

Chip-ee-lop-law    Whippoorwill. 

Fo-a-kee    Quail. 

Pen-nit-kee   Turkey  hen. 

Pen-na-waw-en-to-wee Turkey  beard. 

Pen-cha-ho-gaw    Turkey  cry. 

Pen-ni-chaw   Turkey  gobbler. 

Fo-shon-nits-kaw    Rookery. 

Shee    Feathers. 

Lo-cha-e-stow-cha-kee    Egg. 

O-cho-ko King  fisher. 

Ho-shock-e-a-caw Limkin. 

O-shi-hi-yi Mocking  bird. 

E-fo-law   Owl   (schreech). 

Pot-see-lon-ee   Paroquet. 

To-to-lo-chee    Chicken. 

O-shot-caw Heron  (great  white) . 

O-shot-co-chee    Heron  (little  white). 

O-pal    Owl  (eared). 

E-chee-pa-hot-tee    Mother   Gary's  chicken  (Petrel) 

FISH  AND  REPTILES 

Sar-sho    Fish. 

Sar-sho-o-kee-lon-waw   Cat  fish. 

Whit-lo-ko   Oyster. 

Shar-lo   .  Trout. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     271 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Sar-shochee    Minnow. 

Shup-sho-chee Pickerel. 

Al-la-pa-taw  Alligator. 

Aw-pa-to-naw    Frog. 

Chit-ta-mic-co    .  .- 1          jChief  of  snakes. 

Chit-ko-la-la-go-chee    j  [Rattle  snake. 

Ko-tee Toad. 

Chit-ta-lus-tee    Black  snake. 

Aw-shock-o-law    Snail. 

Ho-lock-waw Turtle   (soft  shell). 

Lo-chaw   Turtle  (land). 

Chit-ta-lock-a-chee   Snake   (spotted). 

O-co-la-chit-ta    Snake   (green). 

Skin-cho-caw Frog   (tree). 

Gotch-es-waw Turtle. 

INSECTS 

Tock-o-cha-cha-tee Ant  (red). 

Tock-o-cha-lus-tee    Ant  (black). 

Fo-a    Bee. 

Chil-lock-o-fo-a Bee  (drone). 

Cufr-ko Flea. 

Cho-naw Fly. 

Scop-o-swaw Gnat. 

A-caw-ko-taw Grasshopper. 

Chil-lock-o-do-no    Horse  fly. 

Taw-fo  Katy-did. 

O-he-aw    Mosquito. 

Och-klo-klon    Spider. 

U-e-cot-taw    Worm. 

Och-o-klon-we-ahr Spider  web. 


272     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

To-ka-tes-kee-at-tee-lo-e-waw    Silk  worm. 

Soke-so   Beetle  (black). 

PLANTS 

Lock-e-tum-ba-e-cee   Oak  leaf. 

Ech-to-fa-la-ha-lee    Chip. 

E-to Wood  (to  burn). 

Cho-lee-saw Pine  leaf. 

Jm-pock-pock-ee   Flower. 

Pi-hee   Grass. 

Gatch-ho-ho-e-claw    Blackberry. 

Aw-won-aw    .Willow  tree. 

Chit-ta-hum-pe-ta Snake  plant. 

Til-e-ko Oats. 

Shot-i-pee   Persimmon  tree. 

Shot-taw Persimmon. 

Shot-o-nin-kla    Persimmon  seed. 

Gotch-o Poison  vine. 

Aw-shen-lock-o Air  plant. 

Aw-shen-waw Moss. 

Shil-o-fo-haw    Water  lily. 

We-sho   Sassafras. 

Tol-o-lock-o   Palmetto  (cabbage  tree), 

Tol-o-chee    Palmetto  (young  cabbage-tree) 

Tol-o-neck-la    Palmetto  seed. 

She-hop-paw Saw  palmetto. 

Aw-shit-ta-taw  Gall  berries. 

Aw-tock-claw  Weed. 

Chaw-fo-ka-naw    Huckleberries. 

Hi-lis-hot-kee   Ginseng. 

He-swan-i-hit-caw    Quinine. 

Gout-lock-o    Cactus. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     273 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Com-to-lock-o Peanut. 

Ti-fum-bee Onion. 

Hee-chee Tobacco. 

O-chee-o-pee Hickory  tree. 

Kee   Mulberry  tree. 

Hatch-in-e-haw    Cypress  tree. 

E-la-hock-o Shaddock  (grapefruit) . 

THE  FIRMAMENT  — PHYSICAL  PHENOM 
ENA,  ETC. 

Go-chee-som-po-lock-o   Large  star. 

Go-chee-som-pol-e-poch-go-chee Small  star. 

Cho-go-lof-caw    Seven   stars. 

Ho-nit-claw    North  star. 

Wa-hit-law    South  star. 

Ho-so-shaw East  star. 

Aw-hil-lot-caw  West  star. 

Ha-shay    Sun. 

Hit-to-tee   Frost. 

It-to-tee    Ice. 

We-wa   Water. 

Os-e-caw Rain. 

Ti-nit-kee   Thunder. 

Ot-to-e-hot-tit    Lightning, 

Go-ti-lee   Wind. 

Ha-notch-e-fo-law    Whirlwind. 

E-ho-tee    Ground. 

O-ti-lee-lock-o    Storm. 

Ha-shay-shay-pock-taw-lo-gaw Eclipse  of  the  sun. 

Ho-nit-chaw North. 

Ha-so-saw East. 

Wa-ha-law   South. 

Op-a-lock-aw    West. 


274     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Ha-lfts-cha-shay-pock-ta-lo-gaw    .  .  .  .Eclipse  of  the  moon. 

Hi-yi-tee-e-chaw Morning  star. 

E-pof-kee    Evening. 

Hi-e-ta-ma-es-chee    Heat. 

Chit-cho    Dew. 

Ho-lo-chee    A  cloud. 

KINSHIP 

Sop-po-chee My  son. 

Chat-hos-tee    My  daughter. 

Solk-go-chee    My  father. 

Sots-kee My  mother. 

E-chock-o-tee    Brother. 

E-cho-see    Brother    (younger). 

E-la-ha    Brother   (older). 

Cho-wen-waw    Sister. 

Cha-hi-e-waw My  wife. 

Squaw Wife. 

Picc-a-nin-ny    Child. 

VERBS,  PHRASES,  SENTENCES 

Ah-ho-chee    To  plant. 

Tote-ca-taw    To  whistle. 

E-lo-chaw To  date. 

Lop-ko    Make  haste. 

Ah-mos-chay To  give. 

Chim-moc-co-dos-chay Not  to  give. 

Hum-bi-da-lon-es-chay To   feed. 

Yi-es-chay To  sell. 

Neich-hi-es-chee    Not  to  buy. 

Hock-ka-eet-kit To  cry. 

Op-peel-it To  laugh. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     275 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

E-hi-e-kit To  sing. 

Fi-i-it-lot-es-chee    To  hunt. 

Oh-in-i-it    To  smell. 

Clot-la-klip-chay    To  break. 

Sop-pa-lon-es-chay    To  sleep. 

He-ches-c'hee To  see. 

Im-po-hos-chee   To  hear. 

Ah-es-chay    Go. 

Hi-e-pus   To  go. 

Chi-yot-chit To  like. 

Aw-lock-chay   To  come. 

Cha-ho-sit Forgot. 

O-ko-sit Wash. 

He-chus-chee  ' Saw. 

Fit-kon-nit Wait. 

Hal-wuk    It  is  bad. 

Hink-las   It  is  good. 

Hi-o-e-pus-chay    Two  go. 

Hi-op-pee-pox-es-chay    Three  or  more  go, 

I-wox-chee    Many  come. 

Aw-mul-cay    All  come. 

No-chip-os-chay    Go  sleep  (you). 

Clot-la-klip-chay    Broken    (to   break). 

Sup-pa-lon-es-chay    I  take. 

Chi-ho-ches-chee I  am  lost. 

Che-ho-shar    You  are  lost. 

E-wa-kee-pa-lon-es-chay Lie  down,  but  not  to  sleep. 

Hum-kin-mi-si-e-pit    Take  one. 

Ye-hi-e-pa-taw    To  sing. 

So-toke-kee-na-aw-aw-mun-chee    ....  Give  me  money. 

Hi-e-pus-chay   I  go. 

Ot-som-ka-taw   To  go  up  steps. 

Hi-top-ka-taw    ,To  go  down  steps. 


276    THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Hock-it To  whistle. 

Cho-ho-sit Forgot. 

Chi-yot-chee   I  want. 

E-see-op-cop-e-taw    To  ride. 

Chee-yi-chee   Do  you  want  ? 

Mot-to    Thank  you. 

Es-tel-e-pi-e-ka-u-cha-ko-ot-e-he To  put  moccasins  on. 

Kit-lix-chay    Don't  know. 

Kit-li-es-chay    I  know. 

Aw-kay-Iot-kit    Go  in. 

Lop-ko-sin-ot-tos-chay    Come  quick. 

Chee-to-gaw  To  pole  a  boat. 

Scof-gaw    To  row  a  boat. 

Hum-pux-chay-hum-pee-taw   You   eat  plenty. 

No-chee-pa-lon-es-chay I  am  going  to  sleep. 

Sa-lof-ka-chop-kaw My  knife  is  large  (sword), 

Sa-lof-ka-chee   My  knife  is  small. 

A-pok-es-chay All  sit  down. 

No-chip-os-chay    Go  sleep  (you). 

Che-mo-on-ot-es-chay Are  you  sleepy  ? 

I-hoo-es-chay Let  us  go. 

Ho    Yes. 

Li-kus-chay Sit  down. 

Hi-top-cay-ta-li-kus-chay    Sit  down  on  steps. 

No-chit-pay-lon-es-chay    Lie  down  and  sleep. 

Its-kee-e-i-chee-tok-naw    Mother  wants  to  keep  him. 

In-ka-o-ko-sit    Wash  hands. 

Mi-e-taw    Tall  (tree). 

Che-mi-hee   Grow  (you  or  me). 

Che-mi-hee-ta-mi-hee-cha-mi-he-taw    .Grow  very  tall. 
Aw-ne-chee-mi-he-taw    I  grow. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     277 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

I-ti-it-tot-chi-mi-he-taw-mi-he-taw-    "]  T      ... 
te-hee j1  WlU  gr°W  tall< 

Ha-tee-e-tew-chee-hick-chay-hit-es-     )  ~, 

,  ^Glad  to  see  you. 

chay J 

E-cho-lid-kit-he-chus-chee    I  saw  deer  run. 

E-cho-ti-een-lid-kit-he-chus-chee    ....  I  saw  deer  run  fast. 

E-cho-lid-kit-smi-hi-ko-in-in-he-chus- 1  T  , 

J-I  saw  deer  run  slow, 
chee J 

E-cho-yak-op-po-sit Deer  walk. 

E-cho-yak-op-po-sit-hi-chus-chee    1  saw  the  deer  walk. 

E-cho-mo-chon-it-ta-we-wa-ah-kay-    1  To-day  I  saw  a  deer  go 
lot-kit-o-mi-e-it-i-in-he-chus-chee    J  in  the  water  and  swim. 

Il-lich-is-caw    Did  you  kill  it  ? 

Lop-fi-eets-chay Let  us  hunt. 

Im-po-hitch-caw  Do  you  hear  ? 

He-chos-kos-chay    I  can't  find  it. 

To-pa-li-kus-chay   Sit  on   floor    (you). 

Pish-wa-chi-us-chee    I  want  some  meat. 

Aw-som-es-chee-aw-pish-waw    Pass  me  the  meat. 

Lox-a-dox-chay You  lie. 

Is-chay-to-ma-es-chee    Wind  blew  hard. 

He-a-maw Come  here. 

Suck-chay   All  gone. 

Aw-pok-es-chay    All  sit  down. 

Ha-sha-col-lock-tit   Sun  gone  down. 

Ha-sha-i-sit    Sun  come  up. 

To-ko-naw-yo-ko-dos-chay Money,  no  sell  'em. 

On-e-way   Me  too. 

Un-gaw    All  right. 

Nock-a-tee    What  is  it? 

Stom-a-taw   Which  way? 

Aw-lip-ka-shaw    Good-by. 

Aw-tee-tus-chee    By-and-by. 


278     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Ho-lo-wa-gus   No  good. 

Hi-lip-pit-ka-shaw    How  are  you? 

Som-mus-ka-lar-nee-shaw Good  luck. 

Ya-maw    This  way. 

Hock-es-chee Bird  cry. 

Chi-yot-chit    Like  them- 

Chee Young  or  small. 

O-fun-net-taw    Long  time. 

En-cha-mun-chay   Well  or  good. 

Ho-nit-chay    Wild. 

Ni-hit-tus-chay   Fat- 

Wi-o-kee-tus-chay    Poor. 

Es-to-chee-hock-a-effee   Baby  cry. 

E-yof-kee-hum-pee-taw    Supper   (before  dark). 

E-mots-kee-hum-pee-taw    Supper    (after  dark). 

Kan-yuk-sa-es-ta-chat-tee    Florida  red  men. 

Yo-ho-ee-hee War  whoop. 

fDay  after  to-morrow 
Aw-pox-see-lim-pox-say-mst-lee   .  . .  •<    .  ^ 

Stu-es-taw A  great  deal,  or  too  much. 

Ya-ti-ka-chic-co    Great  Speaker  (Commissioner). 

Munks-chay   No. 

Hi-lit-la-ma-es-chay    Too  hot  (fire  water). 

Im-e-lo-la-tee-ti-yee    Water  rough. 

Ko-no-wa-hum-kin-mo-so-nit-ta-wi-  II  want  a  string  of 

yy-ches-chee    J      beads  to-day. 

Shot-cay-taw Green  Corn  Dance. 

In-like-e-taw Heaven. 

~]  The  Supreme  Ruler  or 
E-shock-e-tom-e-see    .}-    ,        ..  ,    ~    . 

J    the  white  man  s  God. 

E-shock-e-tom-e-see-e-po-chee    God's  son,  Christ. 

His-a-kit-a-mis-i   . Great  Spirit. 

Po-ya-fhs-a  Indian's  heaven. 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     279 

SEMINOLE  ENGLISH 

Il-lit    c Death. 

c  ,.  Good  wishes  to  white 

bom-mus-ka-Iar-nee-sna-maw-lin   . . . 

man. 

THE  INDIAN  NAMES  OF  SOME  PRESENT 
SEMINOLES 

Tallahassee Mic-co. 

So-fan-gee Mi-la-kee. 

Fi-lan-e-hee Tal-la-has-so-wee. 

Las-ches-chee    Fo-ston-sto-noc-ee-la. 

Ko-i-hat-cho   Cal-lo-fo-nee. 

Yee-ho-lo-chee    Tol-lo-see. 

O-mul-la-gee    Shon-o-la-kee. 

She-y-o-hee    On-nit-chee. 

Sla-shing-to-goth-la-gee    I-o-chus-chee. 

Che-e-ho-la Suck-kin-ho-chee. 

Sten-o-la-kee .Os-ce-o-la. 

Cho-fee-hat-cho    Mat-lo. 

Os-shen-e-ho-la Nan-ces-o-wee. 

Ho-puth-tee-na-gee    Tal-lem-ee. 

Tin-fai-yai-ki    Kat-ca-la-ni. 

Stem-e-o-la-ga    Chots-kee. 

Ko-nip-hatch-o Tus-tee-nug-gee. 

She-lock-ee    Suc-kin-ho-chee. 

Ta-ses-chee Me-take-ee. 

Fo-so-wa-tos-to-nock-ee    Cat-sa-ma-tel-e-kee. 

I-o-chus-chee'    Fol-lem-mee. 

Hi-e-tee Na-haw. 

Hi-ta-kee    Ho-ti-yee. 

Shon-tee   Ful-le-he-le-chee. 

Na-gof-tee    I-o-la-chee. 

Chick-e-o-hee    Sten-e-wah-hee. 

Cli-so-to-kee-ti-ga Chip-co. 


2 So     THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA 


RHYTHMICAL  NAMES  OF  SOME  FLORIDA 
LAKES,  RIVERS  AND  TOWNS 

Imprints  of  the  Vanishing  Race  are  indelibly  stamped  upon 
the  Geography  of  Florida 


To-hope-ke-li-ga 

Ko-mo-ka 

Wa-hoo 

Chat-ta-hoo-chee 

Chip-po-la 

Man-a-tee 

Mi-am-ee 

Ok-a-lo-a-coo-chee 

Ta-lu-ga 

Ap-pa-lach-i-cola 

Pen-sa-co-la 

Al-li-ga-tor 

O-lus-tee 

Wac-cas-sas-see 

Ap-pa-lach-ee 

O-kee-cho-bee 

We-wa-hatch-ka 

Oc-ta-hatch-ee 

Pic-o-la-ta 

[s-ta-chat-ta 

In-dian-o-la 

Tus-ca-wil-la 

Al-la-pa-ha 

Wa-bas-so 

Is-to-po-ga-yo-ree 

Pin-co-la 

Tho-not-os-sas-sa 

Hic-po-chee 

Cho-ko-los-kee 


Noc-a-tee 

As-ta-tu-la 

A-lach-u-a 

We-ki-va 

Ca-loo-sa-hat-chee 

Ock-lo-wa-ha 

Ock-lock-o-nee 

Choc-ta-what-chee 

Hatch-in-a-ha 

Is-to-po-ga 

Pan-a-soff-kee 

Chu-lu-o-ta 

Im-mo-ka-lee 

Mus-co-gee 

Wa-cis-sa 

O-kee-fe-no-kee 

Su- wan-nee 

Nar-coos-see 

Kan-yuk-sa 

Stein-hatch-ee 

Chu-muck-la 

iWee-took-ka 

Wa-ku-la 

La-coo-chee 

O-ka-hump-kin 

Wa-kee-na 

My-ak-ka 

O-ka-lo-a-coo-chee 

O-ca-la 


THE  SEMINOLES  OF  FLORIDA     281 

Mic-co-su-kee  Ho-mo-sas-sa 

Pa-lat-ka  Os-ce-ola 

With-la-coo-chee  Tal-la-hass-ee 

O-co-ee  Tus-ca-loo-sa 

A-pop-ka  Mic-an-o-pee 

Kiss-imm-ee 


THE   END 


EDITOR'S  NOTE. 

In  this  enlarged  and  illustrated  edition  of  "  The 
Seminoles  of  Florida,"  the  demand  for  which  seems 
to  come  insistently  from  every  hand,  the  author 
wishes  to  acknowledge  the  courtesy  and  great  kind 
ness  of  Mr.  C.  B.  Reynolds  and  Mr.  E.  W.  Histed 
for  their  assistance  in  its  illustrations. 


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